Wireless roaming with dedicated backhaul

ABSTRACT

Systems and method are presented for a wireless Base Station (BS) of a host Operator to allow access to its Radio Access Network (RAN) by both Subscriber Stations associated with the host Operator and Subscriber Stations associated with other Operators, in which the first set of Subscriber Stations are connected by a general backhaul channel to the host Operator&#39;s Core Network data source, and the second set of Subscriber Station are connected by dedicated backhaul channels to Core Network data sources of the other Operators. In this manner, the host Operator provides partial roaming to the second set of Subscriber Stations, which use the host Operators RAN and wireless BS, but not the host Operator&#39;s network infrastructure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/536,103, filed Sep. 19, 2011.

BACKGROUND

In current wireless systems, roaming by a Subscriber Station involvesnetwork infrastructure of both a host Operator and the Operator networkwith whom the Subscriber Station is associated. In essence, thecommunication to and from a Subscriber Station travels over a wirelessBase Station belonging to the roaming host Operator, then along ageneral Backhaul channel of this host Operator to a Core Network datasource of this host Operator, and then involves additional networkinfrastructure of a network Operator with whom the Subscriber Station isassociated. The current system and method, which require use of networkresources of two operators, is inefficient and costly. What is needed isa structure and method by which the Subscriber Station may communicatedirectly with the network infrastructure of its Operator, therebyavoiding unnecessary usage of network infrastructure of the hostnetwork.

BRIEF SUMMARY

One embodiment is a method for connecting a Subscriber Station (SS) withits Operator (also called “its own Operator”) using a wireless BaseStation (BS) belonging to a different Operator (also called “the hostOperator”). In one particular form of such embodiment, a wirelessconnection is established between a wireless BS belonging to a firstOperator (the host Operator) and at least one SS associated with asecond Operator (its own Operator), using wireless spectrum belonging tothe first Operator. A dedicated Backhaul channel is then opened betweenthe wireless BS and a Core Network data source belonging to the secondOperator (its own Operator), wherein said dedicated Backhaul channel isused substantially solely for communicating data sets between the secondOperator and the at least one SS. Data sets are then communicatedbetween the Core Network data source and the at least one SS, via thededicated Backhaul channel of its own Operator and the wireless BS,using the wireless spectrum.

One embodiment is a method for partial roaming. In one particular formof such embodiment, a wireless BS belonging to a first Operator shares awireless spectrum belonging to the first Operator, with SubscriberStations not associated with the first Operator. The wireless BSseparates, at a Backhaul level, traffic of the Subscriber Stations notassociated with the first Operator from traffic of Subscriber Stationsassociated with the first Operator, by maintaining at least two separateBackhaul channels such that a first Backhaul channel connects thewireless BS with a Core Network data source belonging to the firstOperator, and each of the remaining Backhaul channels connects thewireless BS with a Core Network data source belonging to anotherOperator, respectively.

One embodiment is a system allowing partial roaming. In one form of sucha system, there are a first and a second Core Network data sources,belonging to a first and a second Operators, respectively. A wireless BSbelonging to the first Operator, communicates with a first set ofSubscriber Stations associated with the first Operator and with a secondset of Subscriber Stations associated with a second Operator, over awireless spectrum belonging to the first Operator. In one embodiment ofsuch a system, the system transports traffic associated with the firstset of Subscriber Stations over a first Backhaul channel connecting thewireless BS to the first Core Network data source, and also transporttraffic associated with the second set of Subscriber Stations over asecond Backhaul channel connecting the wireless BS to the second CoreNetwork data source.

One embodiment is a method for partial roaming. In one particular formof such embodiment, sets of data are transmitted by a first Operator,from a Core Network data source belonging to the first Operator to afirst set of Subscriber Stations associated with the first Operator,over a Radio Access Network (RAN) belonging to the first Operator. TheRAN detects that a Subscriber Station associated with a second Operatoris requesting access to the RAN. The RAN admits the Subscriber Stationassociated with the second Operator to the RAN. The RAN relays sets ofdata transmitted by a Core Network data source belonging to the secondOperator, to the Subscriber Station associated with the second Operator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention are herein described, by way ofexample only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specificreference now to the drawings, it is stressed that the particulars shownare by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion ofembodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in order toprovide what is believed to be the most useful and readily understooddescription of the principles and conceptual aspects of embodiments ofthe present invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to showstructural details of embodiments in more detail than is necessary for afundamental understanding of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1A illustrates one embodiment of components comprising a system ofa wireless Base Station (BS) communicating with multiple Radio AccessNetworks (RANs);

FIG. 1B illustrates one embodiment of components comprising a system ofa wireless Base Station (BS) communicating with multiple Radio AccessNetworks (RANs), in which there is illustrated the allocation ofspectrum to the RANs, components of wireless BS, and communication pathsbetween the wireless BS and the Core Networks;

FIG. 1C illustrates one embodiment a possible allocation of wirelessAccess Spectrum to two Radio Access Networks (RANs);

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of components comprising a system of awireless Base Station (BS) communicating with multiple Radio AccessNetworks (RANs), in which two RANs are sharing one radio transceiverchain;

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of components comprising a system of awireless Base Station (BS) communicating with multiple Radio AccessNetworks (RANs), in which each of two RANs has its own radio transceiverchain, and the RANs share other resources within the wireless BS;

FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a Baseband Processor included aspart of a system of a wireless Base Station (BS) communicating withmultiple Radio Access Networks (RANs), in which two RANs are sharing oneradio transceiver chain;

FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a Baseband Processor included aspart of a system of a wireless Base Station (BS) communicating withmultiple Radio Access Networks (RANs), in which each of two RANs has itsown radio transceiver chain, and the RANs share other resources withinthe wireless BS;

FIG. 6A illustrates one embodiment of the functioning of a BasebandProcessor in a system comprising a wireless Base Station (BS)communicating with multiple Radio Access Networks (RANs), in which twoRANs are sharing one radio transceiver chain;

FIG. 6B illustrates one embodiment of a possible allocation of wirelessAccess Spectrum to two Radio Access Networks (RANs), in which theallocation can be changed dynamically;

FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of components comprising a system of awireless Base Station (BS) communicating with multiple Radio AccessNetworks (RANs), in which is also illustrated one possible configurationof a communication link from multiple Core Networks through a wirelessBase Station to multiple RANs and then to multiple sets of wirelessSubscriber Stations;

FIG. 8 illustrates one embodiment of the elements of a method fordynamically generating a plurality of Radio Access Networks (RAN) by asingle wireless Station (BS);

FIG. 9 illustrates one embodiment of the elements of a method forservicing multiple Operators via a single wireless Base Station (BS)utilizing dynamic allocation of spectrum;

FIG. 10A illustrates one embodiment of components comprising a systemfor assigning dynamically a plurality of transceiver chains among avarying number of wireless channels;

FIG. 10B illustrates one embodiment of a digital interface of a Basebandprocessor subsystem within a system for assigning dynamically aplurality of transceiver chains among a varying number of wirelesschannels;

FIG. 10C illustrates one embodiment of multiple signal paths in aBaseband processor subsystem within a system including two distinctradio channels;

FIG. 11 illustrates one embodiment of multiple signal paths in Basebandprocessor subsystem within a system including one radio channel;

FIG. 12 illustrates one embodiment of a Baseband processor subsystem;

FIG. 13 illustrates one embodiment of a Baseband processor subsystemincluding at least two Baseband processors;

FIG. 14 illustrates one embodiment of a Baseband processor subsystemincluding at least two Baseband processors, in which a configurabledigital interconnect subsystem connects with the Baseband processors;

FIG. 15A illustrates one embodiment of components comprising a systemfor assigning dynamically a plurality of transceiver chains among avarying number of wireless channels, in which the system appears in arange-extension mode;

FIG. 15B illustrates one embodiment of components comprising a systemfor assigning dynamically a plurality of transceiver chains among avarying number of wireless channels, in which the system appears in anenhanced-capacity mode;

FIG. 16 illustrates one embodiment of elements of a method fortransitioning from a range extension mode to an enhanced capacity modein a wireless Base Station;

FIG. 17 illustrates one embodiment of components comprising a system fordirect communication between multiple Core Networks and a wireless BaseStation (BS), and between the wireless BS and multiple Radio AccessNetworks (RANs);

FIG. 18A illustrates one embodiment of components of a system with thepotential to dynamically allocate a pool of at least three radiotransceiver chains between first and second RANs;

FIG. 18B illustrates one embodiment of a Baseband Processor which hasallocated two signals to one wireless channel and two other signals to asecond wireless channel;

FIG. 19A illustrates one embodiment of components of a system in which apool of at least three radio transceiver chains has been dynamicallyreallocated between first and second RANs;

FIG. 19B illustrates one embodiment of a Baseband processor which hasallocated three signals to one wireless channel and one other signals toa second wireless channel;

FIG. 20 illustrates one embodiment of the elements of a method fordynamically generating a plurality of Radio Access Networks (RANs) by asingle wireless Base Station (BS);

FIG. 21 illustrates one embodiment of the elements of a method forservicing multiple Operators via a single wireless Base Station (BS)utilizing dynamic allocation of radio transceiver chains;

FIG. 22A illustrates one embodiment of components comprising a system toallow wireless Subscriber Stations to roam on the wireless Base Stationof a host Operator;

FIG. 22B illustrates an alternative one embodiment of componentscomprising a system to allow wireless Subscriber Stations to roam on thewireless Base Station of a host Operator;

FIG. 23 illustrates one embodiment of the elements of a method forconnecting a Subscriber Station (SS) with its own Operator, using awireless Base Station (BS) belonging to a different Operator (the “hostOperator”);

FIG. 24 illustrates one embodiment of the elements of a method forpartial roaming of a Subscriber Station on the infrastructure of a hostOperator and the infrastructure of its own Operator;

FIG. 25A illustrates one embodiment of components comprising a system bywhich Subscriber Stations associated with an Operator communicate with aCore Network data source of that Operator;

FIG. 25B illustrates one embodiment of components comprising a system inwhich a Subscriber Station associated with a different Operator requestsaccess to the Radio Access Network (RAN) of a host Operator;

FIG. 25C illustrates one embodiment of components comprising a system inwhich the Subscriber Access that requested access to the RAN of a hostOperator has been admitted to the RAN of the host Operator; and

FIG. 26 illustrates one embodiment of the elements of a method forpartial roaming of a Subscriber Station on the infrastructure of a hostOperator and on the infrastructure of an Operator with whom theSubscriber Station is associated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A number of terms are used in the presentation of embodiments, amongwhich are the following:

An “Analog-Digital Interface”, also called a “Two-Way Analog-DigitalInterface”, is a converter between two components of a system thatconverts analog signals to digital signals, or digital signals to analogsignals, depending on the need. One example of an Analog-DigitalInterface is an interface between a Baseband subsystem and radiotransceiver chain. Each of the components listed may have additionalsub-components, some of which are listed in the embodiments describedherein. Different configurations of the components are described in someof the embodiments. Different communication paths and processes betweencomponents are described in some of the embodiments. The components,sub-components, configurations, and communication paths and processes,presented herein, are intended to present only some of the embodiments,and are illustrative only.

“Associated with” describes the relationship between a SubscriberStation and an Operator. The Subscriber Station is owned by a consumeror other third party customer. This consumer or customer subscribes to aparticular Operator to receive wireless service. The Subscriber Stationis said to be “associated with” the Operator to whom the consumer orcustomer has subscribed for this particular Subscriber Station. TheSubscriber Station is not owned by the Operator, and so it is notstated, indeed it would be incorrect to state, that the SubscriberStation is “owned by” the Operator. The term used herein is “associatedwith”.

A “wireless Base Station”, or “Base Station”, is a collection ofhardware and software that communicates to Subscriber Stations over theRAN, using any of a variety of standardized or proprietary protocols, inTDD or FDD mode, and on one or more channels of wireless AccessSpectrum. If a Base Station can operate on multiple radio channels ofspectrum that are considered to be relatively closely separated fromeach other (or even adjacent to one another), the Base Station isreferred to as a “multi-carrier Base Station”. If a multi-carrier BaseStation can operate on widely separated frequencies then it mayadditionally be referred to as a “multi-band Base Station”. A“multi-mode Base Station” is a Base Station that supports multiplewireless protocols. Non-limiting examples of such wireless protocolsinclude LTE and WiFi. The wireless Base Station generates the RAN.

By industry convention, and also herein, “Base Station” includes notjust the hardware processing device in which radio processing andbaseband processing occurs, but also the radio transceiver chainconnected to such hardware processing device, and the antennas inphysical connection with the radio transceiver chain. In someembodiments, each such hardware processing device is connected to oneradio transceiver chain, and each radio transceiver chain is connectedto one antenna. However, it is possible to have multiple antennasconnected to one radio transceiver chain. It is also possible to haveone antenna in connection with multiple radio transceiver chains, inwhich case there would be a power combiner that combines the signalsfrom the radio transceiver chains into the one antenna. It is alsopossible to split one radio transceiver chain to multiple hardwareprocessing devices, so that the multiple hardware devices feed signalsto the radio transceiver chain. It is also possible to have one hardwareprocessing device connected to multiple radio transceiver chains. All ofthe possible configurations discussed herein come within the term “BaseStation”.

A “Baseband Processor” (BP) is a device, typically a chip or a part of achip in a Base Station, that manages and performs signal processing andradio control functions. Modulation and demodulation of communicationsignals are typically performed by a BP. A BP is a component of awireless Base Station, and also typically appears in advanced consumerwireless equipment, although the configuration of the BP device willvary depending on many factors, including, among others, whether it willfunction in the wireless BS or in the consumer wireless device.

A “Core Network” is a part of a mobile communication network thatprovides various services to Subscriber Stations who are connected tothe Core Network via a RAN. An Operator's Core Network is theaggregation point of data to and from multiple Base Stations, andtypically includes equipment and software for subscriber authentication,monitoring, metering, billing, control, and overall administration ofthe network. A Base Station communicates to the Core Network over theBase Station's “backhaul interface”, which may be either wired orwireless.

A “Gateway device” is a device through which passes all traffic to andfrom a set of Base Stations. Most Operators organize their networks withone or more Gateway devices, although strictly speaking, this is notessential. Communication between a Base Station and a Gateway isgenerally governed by a standard or proprietary protocol, and willusually vary to some degree among Operators, even when all the Operatorsare using a technical standards-based approach. This protocol, whetherstandard for multiple Operators or proprietary to one Operator, isalmost always carried “in-band”.

“In-band” means that the communication protocol between a Base Stationand a Gateway is logically multiplexed with the data itself on the BaseStation's backhaul interface.

Some Base Stations also communicate directly with one another, ratherthan through a Gateway. One typical reason for such communication is toexchange time-sensitive information related to inter-Base Stationsubscriber handover operations. Another typical reason for suchcommunication is to help implement or improve load-balancing betweenBase Stations. Inter-Base Station communication, for whatever reason itis implemented, is typically governed by standard or proprietaryprotocols, and such protocols, even if standard, will usually vary amongOperators and even among manufacturers of infrastructure equipment.

A “network Tunnel” or “Tunnel” is a network communications channelbetween two networks. It is used to transport another network protocolby encapsulation of the protocol packets. Tunnels are often used forconnecting two disjoint networks that lack a native routing path to eachother, via an underlying routable protocol across an intermediatetransport network. In IP tunneling, every IP packet, includingaddressing information of its source and destination IP networks, isencapsulated within another packet format native to the transit network.At the borders between the source network and the transit network, aswell as the transit network and the destination network, Gateways areused that establish the end-points of the IP tunnel across the transitnetwork. IP Tunnels are logical, rather than physical, interfaces.Examples of network Tunnels are IP Tunnels and Generic RoutingEncapsulation (GRE).

An “Operator” is a company or other entity that provides wirelessservices to subscribers. An Operator may operate regionally,nation-wide, or even globally. An Operator may utilize either Licensedor Unlicensed spectrum, or a combination of both. Each portion of anOperator's spectrum may be deployed as half-duplex, time division duplex(TDD), full-duplex, or frequency division duplex (FDD). An Operator'sspectral allocation may be uniform across its service area, or may varyfrom region to region. If multiple Operators function in different andnon-overlapping geographic regions, the same frequency range may beallocated to different Operators in different regions.

A “host Operator” is an Operator which has been requested to allowaccess to a Subscriber Station not associated with that Operator. Thehost Operator allows the Subscriber Station to access the hostOperator's RAN, and the host Operator then provides either roaming orpartial roaming services to the Subscriber Station. The phrase “firstOperator” also means the “host Operator”, where “first Operator”contrasts with “second Operator” and/or “other Operator”, neither ofwhich is the “host Operator”.

An operator with whom a Subscriber Station is associated is also calledthe Subscriber Station's “own Operator”.

A “Radio Access Network” (RAN) is a part of a mobile communicationsystem that implements radio access technology. In a wirelesscommunication system, the RAN sits between the Subscriber Station andthe Core Network. The RAN is generated by the wireless BS.

“Roaming” is a situation where a Subscriber Station associated with aparticular Operator, encounters a wireless network belonging to adifferent Operator, where frequency encountered by the SubscriberStation is supported by the different Operator, and the SubscriberStation receives service from that different Operator.

“Partial Roaming”, as used herein, is roaming, except that a SubscriberStation makes connection with the wireless BS of a host Operator, as inordinary roaming, but unlike ordinary roaming, connections for thisSubscriber Station do not travel over the network infrastructure of thehost Operator, but only on the network infrastructure of the SubscriberStation's own Operator, and the Subscriber station does not have datacommunication with the data source of the first Operator, but has datacommunication only with the data source of the second Operator. In thisway, the Subscriber Station, which is associated with the secondOperator, uses wireless spectrum resources of the first Operator, butdoes not use network resources of the first Operator during the courseof data communication between a data source and the Subscriber Station.

A “roaming Subscriber Station”, or “roaming SS”, is a Subscriber Stationthat is in communicative connection with a wireless Base Station (BS) ofa host Operator, which is an Operator with whom the roaming SubscriberStation is not associated. This may be ordinary roaming, in which the SSis connected via the BS on a network infrastructure of the host Operatorto a data source of the host Operator, or partial roaming, in which theSS is connected via the BS on a network infrastructure of anotherOperator (the SS's own Operator) to the Core Network data source of theother Operator.

“Subscriber Stations” are wireless communication devices used bycustomers of an Operator. Such Subscriber Stations are typically, butnot necessarily and not always, locked to all or a subset of the radiofrequencies licensed to that Operator. Some possible non-limitingcategories of Subscriber Stations include handsets, dongles, customerpremises equipment (CPE) for wireless communication, and hot spotequipment for wireless communication. Non-limiting examples of handsetsinclude cellular telephones of all kinds, PDAs, wireless data devices,pages, and other consumer radio equipment.

“Wireless Access Spectrum” is the radio spectrum on which a RANoperates, and hence the radio spectrum is utilized by both SubscriberStations to access the wireless Base Station and the wireless BaseStation to communicate with Subscriber Stations.

There is a need for a practical way by which various Operators maycollaborate and share infrastructure equipment and other resources. Thesharing of resources by multiple Operators can be advantageous to allparties. Devices, systems, and methods are presented herein for awireless Base Station (BS) capable of substantially simultaneouslyproviding service to subscribers of multiple Operators. Depending uponthe particular deployment requirements or equipment capabilities, eachOperator may be operating on the same or different frequencies. Iffrequencies are different, they may be adjacent, closely separated, orwidely separated. The wireless BS will distinguish and logicallyseparate and route the traffic between each Subscriber Station and theCore Network providing service to that Subscriber Station. The wirelessBS may support different logical or different physical interfacesbetween the wireless BS and each Operator.

Where limited wireless or processing resources are shared among theOperators, load balancing techniques and methods may be deployed togovern the allocation of these resources. Non-limiting examples ofshared resources include Subscriber Stations of multiple Operatorssharing the same frequency, Operators sharing one or more radio chains,shared antennas, shared transmit power, shared backhaul, and one or moreprocessors which process communication for multiple Operators. For theseand other cases of shared resource utilization, load balancingtechniques and methods may apply within a single Base Station, or amonga group of Base Stations on a network. Such load balancing techniquesand methods may be distributed, or controlled centrally, or havedynamically shifting control as the needs change. Considerations in theselection and deployment of load balancing techniques may be technicalor financial or both. Such considerations may affect the load balancingalgorithms and decisions. As an example of a consideration that is bothtechnical and financial, one Operator may be heavily loaded at aparticular time while another Operator may be lightly loaded at the sametime. By agreement between the Operators, the heavily loaded Operatormay off-load capacity by utilizing resources normally allocated to thelightly loaded Operator. An agreement like this would typically includefinancial compensation from the heavily loaded Operator to the lightlyloaded Operator, and such compensation may be cost per usage, fixed costper period or by event, variable cost depending on such factors as timeand relative loading, or on any other basis agreed upon by theOperators.

Many possible embodiments of a multi-Operator BS may be imagined. A veryfew non-limiting examples include the following:

(1) According to one multi-Operator BS scenario, at least SubscriberDevices of one Operator in the geographic region of interest may nothave the capability to roam onto another Operator's licensed spectrum.This could be because such Subscriber Devices of a first Operator do notcontain the appropriate frequency support to function on the frequencyof the second Operator, or because such Subscriber Devices are lockedonto the first Operator's network, or because such Subscriber Devicesare locked out of the other Operator's network.

In one embodiment, this problem may be handled by either a multi-carrieror multi-band Base Station, with one or more distinct carriers allocatedto each Operator. The relative amounts of spectrum allocated among theOperators could impact the allocation of carriers among the Operators.In this embodiment, the Base Station may support multiple logicalcore-network interfaces, one for each Operator, and the interfaces maybe either standardized or customized for each different Operator.Communication may be multiplexed onto the same physical backhaulinterface, with each message or even each packet labeled with uniquerouting information to connect the message or packet to itscorresponding core network gateway. However, and alternatively, eachlogical interface may utilize different physical interfaces.

In this embodiment, load balancing of shared Base Station resourcesbetween Operators may apply to any or all of antennas, transmit power,backhaul resources, and processing power.

(2) According to a second multi-Operator BS scenario, at least somesubscriber devices of a first Operator in the geographic region ofinterest do have the capability to roam onto another Operator's licensedspectrum.

For this case, in one embodiment such roaming may be handled by either amulti-carrier or a multi-band Base Station, depending at least in partupon the specific spectrum allocations to the Operators. A SubscriberStation may, by default, connect to its own Operator's spectrum, inwhich case communication will be effected as explained in scenario (1)above. However, in the event that the Operator's network is heavilyloaded, prior art architecture does not allow the Base Station to directthe subscriber to a more lightly loaded Operator's spectrum. In oneembodiment, instead of the typical prior art roaming situation, by whicha local Operator's network handles the session and later bills thesubscriber's Operator per pre-agreement, the Base Station will supportmultiple logical Core Network interfaces, one such interface for eachOperator, and the traffic from the redirected subscriber will be routedto its own Operator's core interface. (Such interface may be logical orphysical, or dynamically shifting between logical and physical.) TheBase Station, in combination with relevant Core Network elements, cankeep track of this shared usage so that the proper financialcompensation may be made between Operators.

In this embodiment, load balancing of shared Base Station resourcesbetween Operators may apply to spectrum, antennas, transmit power,backhaul resources, processing power, or any of the other elementspreviously identified as possible shared resources.

(3) According to a third multi-Operator BS scenario, the Base Stationand at least some Subscriber Stations in a geographic region ofinterest, support one or more ranges of unlicensed spectrum orprotocols. Various non-limiting examples of an unlicensed protocol areBluetooth, WiFi, and WiMAX, but there are many such examples oftechnologies. Often, but not exclusively, such technologies may operateat relatively low power, or may operate in one of the non-licensed bandssuch as 915 MHz, 2.45 Gz, or 5.8 GHz. This third scenario can occur incombination with either scenario (1) or scenario (2), above.

In one embodiment of a scenario with unlicensed spectrum or protocols,usage on unlicensed spectrum is handled by either a multi-carrier BaseStation or multi-band Base Station (depending upon the specific spectrumallocations of the Operators). If multiple protocols are involved, inwhich a second Operator employs a protocol not used by a first Operator,a multi-mode Base Station may support the different protocols.

In this third scenario of unlicensed spectrum or protocols, licensedoperation is handled as in the case of either scenarios (1) or (2)above. At the same time, unlicensed spectrum may be budgeted or simplyshared among the participating Operators, or the unlicensed spectrum maybe used as a resource that is allocated and charged for by the owner ofthe Base Station. The owner of the Base Station may be one of theOperators, or may be a separate party. In any event, traffic allocatedto unlicensed spectrum supported by a Base Station will again be routedto and from the Operator's Core Network. Such routing may be logical orphysical or dynamically changing between logical and physical.

The general architecture for some of the embodiments described hereincall for a number of components, including: (1) Subscriber Stations, (2)RANs, (3) antenna and radio chains, the latter including poweramplifiers, low noise amplifiers, and one or more transceivers. Eachradio chain may operate on the same channel (single-carrier capability),different but closely separated channels (multi-carrier capability), orwidely separated channels (multi-band capability), (4) a Basebandsubsystem, (5) a network processor that may implement, among otherthings, an array of logical core network interfaces, each of whichmultiplex into one or more physical backhaul interfaces, (6) backhaullinks, and (7) core Networks.

Each of the components listed may have additional sub-components, someof which are listed in the embodiments described herein. Differentconfigurations of the components are described in some of theembodiments. Different communication paths and processes betweencomponents are described in some of the embodiments. The components,sub-components, configurations, and communication paths and processes,presented herein, are intended to present only some of the embodiments,and are illustrative only.

FIG. 1A illustrates one embodiment of components in a system. In FIG.1A, there is a wireless Base Station (BS) 100, which is connected by oneor more Backhaul links 105 to an IP Network 101. Said IP Networkincludes two or more sources of data. Here, the sources are data thatcome from a first Core Network, First Core Network data source 102 a,and from a second Core Network, Second Core Network data source 102 b.The wireless BS 100 also generates two or more Random Access Networks(RANs), here First RAN 109 a and Second RAN 109 b. Each RAN networkcommunicates with one or more Subscriber Stations. In FIG. 1A,Subscriber Stations 108 are communicatively connected to First RAN 109a.

FIG. 1B illustrates one embodiment of components in a system. Thewireless BS 100 includes at least two major components, which are one ormore Network processors 201 that communicate with IP Network 101 via thephysical Backhaul links 105. The Backhaul links 105 are physical links,which may be microwave, cable, or any other communication medium.Backhaul links 105 provide a path for the logical links, which are thenetwork Tunnels connecting Core Network data sources with the Networkprocessors 102. In FIG. 1B, First network Tunnel 105 a communicativelyconnects First Core Network data source 102 a with Network processors201, and Second Core Network data source 102 b with Network processors201. The Network processors 201 are also communicatively connected withBaseband processor/s 202, which generate using one or more radio chains,and one or more radio antennas, the RANs, here First RAN 109 a andSecond RAN 109 b. In the initial setup of the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 1B, a First amount of wireless Access Spectrum 211 a has beenallocated to First RAN 109 a, and a Second amount of wireless AccessSpectrum has been allocated to Second RAN 109 b.

FIG. 1C illustrates one embodiment a possible allocation of wirelessAccess Spectrum to two Radio Access Networks (RANs). A certain amount ofwireless Access Spectrum has been pre-allocated 211 to a wireless BS andto an associated plurality of two or more RANs. Further, all or part ofthe pre-allocated wireless Access Spectrum 211 may be dynamicallyallocated as a First amount of wireless Access Spectrum 211 a to a FirstRAN 109 a or as a Second amount of wireless Access Spectrum 211 b to aSecond RAN 109 b. In FIG. 1C, not all of 211 has been allocated to 211 aor 211 b. Rather, there is a small amount of frequency between 211 a and211 b that has not been allocated, possibly as a guard frequency againstinter-Operator interference. Similarly, there is a small amount offrequency on the left of 211 a, in a frequency lower than the lowestboundary of the 211 a range, that has not been allocated, and this, too,might be a guard frequency. In addition, there is a greater amount offrequency at a higher range than 211 b, still within 211 but to theright of 211 b, that has not been allocated, and this may be partially aguard frequency, possibly a reserve, possibly allocated to a differentOperator or a different purpose. The main point is that the totalfrequency in 211 a and 211 b combined may equal, or maybe less than, butmay not exceed, the pre-allocated wireless Access Spectrum 211. Further,the allocation of 211 between 211 a and 211 b may be done at the sametime as the allocation of 211, or may be done after the allocation of211, but in all cases, no frequency is allocated among Operators untilthere has been or is simultaneously a pool of pre-allocated wirelessAccess Spectrum 211.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of components comprising a system of awireless Base Station (BS) 100 generating multiple Radio Access Networks(RANs) 109 a & 109 b, in which the two RANs 109 a & 109 b are sharingone radio transceiver chain 232. In FIG. 2, there is a single radiotransceiver chain 232 utilized by the Baseband processors 202 togenerate the RANs 109 a and 109 b. As described previously, a Firstamount of wireless Access Spectrum 211 a has been allocated to First RAN109 a, and a Second amount of wireless Access Spectrum 211 b has beenallocated to Second RAN 109 b. Since both 109 a and 109 b communicatewith wireless BS 100 through the same radio transceiver chain 232, thecoverage areas of 109 a and 109 b will be either the same or verysimilar.

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of components comprising a system of awireless Base Station (BS) 100 communicating with multiple Radio AccessNetworks (RANs) 109 a & 109 b, in which each of two RANs 109 a & 109 bhas its own radio transceiver chain 233 a & 233 b, and the RANs 109 a &109 b share other resources within the wireless BS 100. FIG. 3 has thesame components has does FIG. 2, except FIG. 3 does not have a singleradio transceiver chain 232. Rather, FIG. 3 has two transceiver chains,which are First radio transceiver chain 233 a that is utilized byBaseband processor/s 202 to generate First RAN 109 a using the Firstamount of wireless Access Spectrum 211 a, and Second radio transceiverchain 233 b that is utilized by Base Band processor/s 202 to generateSecond RAN 109 b using the Second amount of wireless Access Spectrum 211b. As shown in FIG. 3, since each RAN has its own radio transceiverchains, the RAN coverage areas are essentially independent. The coverageareas might not overlap at all, might overlap slightly as is shown inFIG. 3, or might overlap substantially as is shown in FIG. 2.

In one embodiment, there is a wireless Base Station (BS) 100 system todirectly communicate with Core Network data sources 102 a & 102 b, onone side, and to directly provide multiple corresponding Radio AccessNetworks (RANs) 109 a & 109 b on the other side. This system may includea network processor 201 operative to maintain at least two networkTunnels 105 a & 105 b extending directly to at least two correspondingCore Network data sources 102 a & 102 b, one or more Baseband processors202 operative to create at least two RANs 109 a & 109 b substantiallysimultaneously, and one or more radio transceiver chains 232, 233 a and233 b, operative to accommodate the one or more Baseband processors 202in creating the at least two RANs 109 a & 109 b substantiallysimultaneously. In one configuration of the embodiment, the system maybe configured to split dynamically a pool of pre-allocated wirelessAccess Spectrum 211 between the at least two RANs 109 a & 109 baccording to one or more criteria, reconfigure the at least one BasebandProcessor 202 to maintain the at least two RANs 109 a & 109 b accordingto the split of spectrum between the two RANs 109 a & 109 b, and operatethe at least two RANs 109 a & 109 b using data communicated with thecorresponding at least two Core Network data sources 102 a & 102 b viathe corresponding at least two network Tunnels 105 a & 105 b.

In an alternative embodiment of the embodiment just described, at leastone of the criteria used to split dynamically a pool of pre-allocatedwireless Access Spectrum 211 between at least two RANs 109 a & 109 b, isbased on dynamic data rate requirements of at least one of the CoreNetwork data sources 102 a & 102 b.

In another alternative embodiment of the embodiment described above, atleast one of the criteria used to split dynamically a pool ofpre-allocated wireless Access Spectrum 211 between at least two RANs 109a & 109 b, is based on measuring data rates over at least one of theRANs 109 a & 109 b.

In another alternative embodiment of the embodiment just described, atleast one of the criteria used to split dynamically a pool ofpre-allocated wireless Access Spectrum 211 between at least two RANs 109a & 109 b, is based on measuring data rates over at least one of thenetwork Tunnels 105 a & 105 b.

In another alternative embodiment of the embodiment just described, thedynamic split of pre-allocated wireless Access Spectrum creates at leasttwo amounts of wireless Access Spectrum, and each amount of wirelessAccess Spectrum after the split is allocated to one of the at least twoRANs.

In one possible configuration of the alternative embodiment in whicheach amount of wireless Access Spectrum after the split is allocated toone of the at least two RANs, at least one of the amounts of wirelessAccess Spectrum 211 a & 211 b allocated to the RANs 109 a & 109 b, issmaller than the other amount of allocated wireless Access Spectrum 211a & 211 b. In other words, either 211 a is greater than 211 b, or 211 bis greater than 211 a, but in this embodiment 211 a is not equal to 211b.

FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a Baseband processor 202 in asystem of a wireless Base Station (BS) 100 generating multiple RadioAccess Networks (RANs) 109 a & 109 b, in which two RANs 109 a & 109 bare sharing one radio transceiver chain 232. In this embodiment, theBaseband processor 202 may be reconfigured by programming. In onepossible embodiment, reconfiguration by programming is implemented bytwo software changes, termed in FIG. 4, “First software instance 401 a”and “Second software instance 401 b”. In 401 a, the software instance isassociated with First RAN 109 a, and 401 a creates Baseband signal 440a, having a bandwidth that is dynamically related to the amount ofwireless Access Spectrum 211 a allocated to First RAN 109 a.Correspondingly, in 401 b the software instance is associated withSecond RAN 109 b, and 401 b creates Baseband signal 440 b, having abandwidth that is dynamically related to the amount of wireless AccessSpectrum 211 b allocated to First RAN 109 b. In FIG. 4, the relativebandwidth between 109 a and 109 b are intimately related, since thetotal amount of bandwidth allocated to two RANs 109 a & 109 b cannotexceed the initial allocation 211. Similarly, the relative bandwidths ofthe Baseband signals 440 a & 440 b are intimately related, since the twobandwidths together cannot exceed the allocation 211.

FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a Baseband processor 202 in asystem of a wireless Base Station (BS) 100 generating multiple RadioAccess Networks (RANs) 109 a & 109 b, in which each of two RANs 109 a &109 b has its own radio transceiver chain, 233 a for First RAN 109 a and233 b for Second RAN 109 b. In this embodiment, First software instance401 a creates Baseband signal 440 a, which the Baseband processor 202communicates to the First radio transceiver chain 233 a, whichcommunicates Baseband signal 440 a over allocated frequency 211 a toFirst RAN 109 a. Also in this embodiment, Second software instance 401 bcreates Baseband signal 440 b, which the Baseband processor 202communicates to the Second radio transceiver chain 233 b, whichcommunicates Baseband signal 440 b over allocated frequency 211 b toSecond RAN 109 b.

FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B illustrate one embodiment of a Baseband processor202 in a system of a wireless Base Station (BS) 100 generating multipleRadio Access Networks (RANs) 109 a & 109 b, in which two RANs 109 a &109 b are sharing one radio transceiver chain 232. In this embodiment,the Baseband processor 202 may be reconfigured by programming. In onepossible embodiment, reconfiguration by programming is implemented by aDynamic signal synthesizer 501 dynamically synthesizing a singlecompound signal 550 on Baseband processor 202. The single compoundsignal 550 has at least two frequency portions 550 a & 550 b, in whicheach frequency portion is associated with one of the RANs 109 a & 109 b,and each of the frequency portions 550 a & 550 b is dynamically relatedto the amount of wireless Access Spectrum allocated 211 a & 211 b to theRANs 109 a & 109 b. As an example, 501 creates compound signal 550 whichincludes a frequency portion 550 a associated with First RAN 109 a anddynamically related to First amount of wireless Access Spectrum 211 a,and which also includes frequency portion 550 b associated with SecondRAN 109 b and dynamically related to Second amount of wireless AccessSpectrum 211 b. In this sample embodiment, the dynamic signalsynthesizer 501 fills the role formerly filled by First softwareinstance 401 a and Second software instance 401 b in FIG. 4. Since FIG.6A, like FIG. 4, has only one radio transceiver chain 232, the coverageareas of 109 a and 109 b overlap substantially.

In one embodiment, a wireless Base Station (BS) 100 system directlycommunicates with Core Network data sources 102 a & 102 b, on one side,and directly provides multiple corresponding Radio Access Networks(RANs) 109 a & 109 b on the other side, in which different amounts ofwireless Access Spectrum have been allocated to RANs 109 a & 109 b, thefollowing additional elements may appear. (1) The at least one Basebandprocessor 202 is programmable to an alternative configuration. (2) TheBaseband processor 202 is reconfigured by at least two softwareinstances 401 a & 401 b on Baseband processor 202, each softwareinstance associated with at least one of the RANs 109 a & 109 b, andeach software instance 401 a & 401 b creates a Baseband signal 440 a &440 b that has a bandwidth dynamically related to the amount of wirelessAccess Spectrum allocated to the RAN by the dynamic split of wirelessAccess Spectrum. For example, 401 a creates 440 a that is dynamicallyrelated to 211 a, and 401 b creates 440 b that is dynamically related to211 b. In one alternative embodiment of this embodiment, there is onlyone radio transceiver chain 232, and the Baseband signals 440 a & 440 bof the least two software instances 401 a & 401 b are fed to this onechain 232, thereby generating the at least two RANs 109 a & 109 b, eachRAN driven by one of the corresponding Baseband signals 109 a by 401 aand 109 b by 401 b. In a different alternative embodiment of theembodiment described above, there are two radio transceiver chains 233 a& 233 b rather than the one chain 232, so 401 a creates 440 a that isfed to transceiver chain 233 a which then generates First RAN 109 a, and401 b creates 440 b that is fed to transceiver chain 233 b which thengenerates Second RAN 109 b.

In one embodiment a wireless Base Station (BS) 100 system directlycommunicates with Core Network data sources 102 a & 102 b, on one side,and directly provides multiple corresponding Radio Access Networks(RANs) 109 a & 109 b on the other side, in which different amounts ofwireless Access Spectrum have been allocated to RANs 109 a & 109 b, thefollowing additional elements may appear. (1) The at least one Basebandprocessor 202 is programmable to an alternative configuration. (2) TheBaseband processor 202 is reconfigured by a dynamic signal synthesizer501 dynamically synthesizing a single compound signal 550 on the atleast one Baseband processor 202, the compound signal 550 having atleast two frequency portions 550 a & 550 b, each of the two frequencyportions 550 a & 550 b associated with one of the at least two RANs 109a & 109B, and each of the frequency portions 550 a & 550 b isdynamically related to the amount of wireless Access Spectrum 550 a &550 b allocated for each of the RANs 109 a & 109 b by the frequencysplit.

In an alternative embodiment of the embodiment described immediatelyabove, there is a single radio transceiver chain 232, and the singlecompound signal 550 is fed to the single radio transceiver chain 232,thereby generating the at least two RANs 109 a & 109 b, in which each isdriven by one of the two frequency portions 550 a & 550 b. In onepossible configuration of this alternative embodiment of the embodimentdescribed immediately above, each of the two RANs is either WiMAX orLTE, the single compound signal 550 is an Orthogonal Frequency DivisionMultiple Access (OFDMA) signal, and the two frequency portions 550 a &550 b comprises at least one unique sub-channel of the OFDMA signal.

FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of components comprising a systemcommunicating between Core Network data sources 102 a & 102 b andwireless Subscriber Stations 108 a & 108 b, in which a first data set iscommunicated 300 a from First Core Network data source 102 a via thelogical link network Tunnel 105 a to wireless Base Station 100, then toNetwork processor 201, Baseband processor 202, and First radiotransceiver chain 233 a, after which the first data set is conveyed 301a by the wireless BS 10 to the First RAN 109 a, and finally to a firstset of wireless Subscriber Stations 108 a. Also in this embodiment, asecond data set is communicated 300 b from Second Core Network datasource 102 b via the logical link network Tunnel 105 b to wireless BaseStation 100, then to Network processor 201, Baseband processor 202, andSecond radio transceiver chain 233 b, after which the second data set isconveyed 301 b by the wireless BS 10 to the Second RAN 109 a, andfinally to a second set of wireless Subscriber Stations 108 b. FIG. 7illustrates the communication path for both data sets between each CoreNetwork and its corresponding set of wireless Subscriber Stations. Ofcourse, data traffic travels in both direction, from Core Networksthrough various stages to wireless Subscriber Stations, and fromwireless Subscriber Stations through various stages to Core Networks.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating one method for dynamicallygenerating a plurality of Radio Access Networks (RAN) 109 a & 109 b by asingle wireless Base Station (BS) 100. In step 1021, determiningdynamically first and second amounts of wireless Access Spectrum 211 a &211 b needed by a wireless BS 100 to wirelessly convey data from a firstand a second corresponding Core Network data sources 102 a & 102 b. Instep 1022, allocating the first and the second amounts of wirelessAccess Spectrum 211 a & 211 b, out of a pool of pre-allocated wirelessAccess Spectrum 211 belonging to the wireless BS 100, to a first RAN 109a and a second RAN 109 b, respectively, of the wireless BS respectively.In step 1023, the wireless BS 100 communicating first and second datasets 300 a & 300 b, with the first and the second Core Network datasources 102A & 102 b, respectively. In step 1024, the wireless BS 100conveying the first and second data sets 301 a & 301 b, over the firstand second RANs 109 a & 109 b, respectively, to first and second sets ofwireless Subscriber Stations (SS) 108 a & 108 b, respectively.

In a first possible implementation of the method just described, furtherdetermining from time to time the first and the second amounts ofwireless Access Spectrum 211 a & 211 b needed by the wireless BS 100 towirelessly convey 301 a & 301 b the first and second data sets, andallocating from time to time the first and the second amounts ofwireless Access Spectrum 211 a & 211 b.

In this first possible implementation of the method just described, onefurther possible implementation is that the first and second amounts ofwireless Access Spectrum 211 a & 211 b are determined, at least in part,from first and second data rates associated with communicating the datasets 300 a & 300 b. In this further possible implementation of thepossible implementation of the method just described, the first andsecond data rates associated with communicating the data sets 300 a &300 b may be measured, or such data rates may be determined by queryingthe first and second Core Network data sources 102 a & 102 b, or it ispossible to both measure the data rates and also query the Core Networkdata sources 102 a & 102 b.

In this first possible implementation of the method described above fordynamically generating a plurality of RANs 109 a & 109 b by a singlewireless BS 100, a second further possible implementation is that atsome point in time most of the pool of pre-allocated wireless AccessSpectrum 211 is allocated as the first amount of wireless AccessSpectrum 211 a to the First RAN 109 a. In this same second furtherpossible implementation, in an additional embodiment, at some point intime most of the pool of pre-allocated wireless Access Spectrum 211 isallocated as the second amount of wireless Access Spectrum 211 b to theSecond RAN 109 b.

In a second possible implementation of the method described above,further communicating the first and second data sets 300 a & 300 b withthe first and second Core Network data sources 102 a & 102 b, using atleast one Backhaul link 105.

In this second possible implementation of the method described above,one further possible implementation is that at least one Backhaul link105 comprises a first network Tunnel 105 a, connecting the first CoreNetwork data source 102 a with the wireless BS 100, and connecting thesecond Core Network data source 102 b with the wireless BS 100.

In this same further possible implementation to the second possibleimplementation of the method described above, an additional embodimentwould include the following additional elements. (1) The wireless BS 100is an integrated Pico-Base Station. (2) The network Tunnels 105 a & 105b are directly connected to the first and second Core Network datasources 102 a & 102 b, respectively. (3) The Pico-Base Stationsubstantially does not require a dedicated infrastructure to facilitateconnectivity with the Core Network data sources 102 a & 102 b other thanthe at least one Backhaul link 105 and an IP Network 101 comprising theCore Network data sources 102 a & 102 b.

In this second possible implementation of the method described above, asecond further possible implementation is that the first data set iscommunicated 300 a over a first Backhaul link, and a second data set iscommunicated over a second Backhaul link. Element 105 shows a singleBackhaul link, but in this further possible implementation, there aretwo Backhaul links, although that is not illustrated in the Figures.

In a third possible implementation of the method described above, theFirst Core Network data source 102 a belongs to a first Operator, theSecond Core Network data source 102 b belongs to a second Operator, theFirst RAN 109 a is associated with an identity of the first Operator,and the Second RAN 109 b is associated with an identity of the secondOperator. The phrase “associated with” in this sense means that the nameof the network is broadcast within the RAN transmissions. Hence, a FirstRAN 109 a associated with the identity of the first Operator willbroadcast, together with the RAN 109 a transmissions, the name of thefirst network or the other identity of the first network chosen by thefirst Operator. Similarly, a Second RAN 109 b associated with theidentity of the second Operator will broadcast, together with the RAN109 b transmissions, the name of the second network or the otheridentity of the second network chosen by the second Operator.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating one method for servicing multiplecellular Operators via a single wireless Base Station (BS) 100,utilizing dynamic allocation of spectrum. In step 1031, a wireless BS100 communicating first 300 a and a second 300 b data sets with a FirstCore Network data source 102 a belonging to a first cellular Operatorand with a Second Core Network data source 102 b belonging to a secondcellular Operator respectively, over first and second network Tunnels105 a & 105 b, respectively. In step 1032, the wireless BS 100 utilizingfirst and second amounts of wireless Access spectrum 211 a & 211 b,respectively, to convey the first 301 a and second 301 b data sets overfirst 109 a and second 109 b RANs, respectively, to first and secondsets of wireless Subscriber Stations (SS) 108 a & 108 b, respectively.In step 1033, determining that the first amount of wireless AccessSpectrum 211 a is not sufficient to convey 300 a the first data set. Instep 1034, increasing the first amount of wireless Access Spectrum 211 aat the expense of the second amount of wireless Access Spectrum 211 b,thereby making the first amount of wireless Access Spectrum 211 a bettersuited to convey 301 a the first data set.

In a first possible implementation of the method just described,increasing the first amount of wireless Access Spectrum 211 a at theexpense of the second amount of wireless Access Spectrum 211 b furthercomprises determining a third amount of wireless Access Spectrum thatcan be reduced from the second amount of wireless Access Spectrum 211 bwithout substantially impairing the ability of the second amount ofwireless Access Spectrum 211 b to convey 301 b the second data set,reducing the third amount of Wireless Access Spectrum from the secondamount of wireless Access Spectrum 211 b, and adding the third amount ofwireless Access Spectrum to the first amount of wireless Access Spectrum211 a.

In a second possible implementation of the method described above,increasing the first amount of wireless Access Spectrum 211 a at theexpense of the second amount of wireless Access Spectrum 211 b furthercomprises determining a third amount of wireless Access Spectrum to bereduced from the second amount of wireless Access Spectrum 211 b and tobe added to the first amount of wireless Access Spectrum 211 a, suchthat the third amount of wireless Access Spectrum is operative tosubstantially equate the ability of the first amount of wireless AccessSpectrum 211 a to convey 301 a the first data set with the ability ofthe second amount of wireless Access Spectrum 211 b to convey 301 b thesecond data set, reducing the third amount of Wireless Access spectrumfrom the second amount of wireless Access Spectrum 211 b, and adding thethird amount of wireless Access Spectrum to the first amount of wirelessAccess Spectrum 211 a.

It is noted that: (1) In some embodiments, there is a fully-integratedBase Station with an ability to handle multiple bands. (2) In someembodiments, there is an array of assignable Core Network interfaceswhich allow multiple Operators to share the same Base Station equipmentand the same physical backhaul interface. (3) In some embodiments, thereis load balancing between Operators to share one or more of wirelessAccess Spectrum, radio antennas, available radio transmit power,backhaul, and Baseband processing power. (4) In some embodiments, bothlicensed and unlicensed frequencies are supported in a fully-integratedBase Stations. (5) In some embodiments, there is dynamic reallocation ofwireless Access Spectrum from a relatively lightly loaded Operator to arelatively heavily loaded Operator. (6) In some embodiments, a dedicatedGateway separates traffic between the Core Networks and the BaseStation. (7) In some embodiments, a fully integrated multi-Operator BaseStation allows multiple Operators to share many different kinds ofresources, such as, but not by limitation, wireless Access Spectrum,antenna, radio chain, transmit power, processing, backhaul to acentralized processing unit, and others. (8) Various of embodimentsdescribed herein offer the flexibility of a compact and fully integratedBase Station that permit balancing in the employment of many differentkinds of resources, including, by example and not by limitation,wireless Access Spectrum, antenna, radio chain, transmit power,processing, and backhaul to a centralized processing unit that is itselfpart of that Base Station. (9) A multi-Operator Base Station would beideal for wholesalers who build networks to be leased out to Operators.In other words, the availability of a multi-Operator Base Station allowsnew designs for networks intended specifically to allow the sharing ofresources.

FIG. 10A illustrates one embodiment of components in a system. In FIG.10A, there is a wireless Base Station (BS) 100 b, which includes aBaseband subsystem 502 communicatively connected to multiple radiotransceiver chains 533 a, 553 b, 553 c, and 533N. Each radio chain iscommunicatively connected to an antenna. In FIG. 10A, radio transceiverchain 533 a is communicatively connected to antenna 577 a, 553 b to 577b, 533 c to 577 c, and 533N to 577N. Each antenna communicates over awireless channel with a group of Subscriber Stations. In FIG. 10A, thereare two wireless channels, which are illustrated as 555 a and 555K. 555a is the radio channel that is used by the two antennas 577 a and 577 b.555K is the wireless channel that is used by antenna 577 c and 577N.

FIG. 10B illustrates one embodiment of components in a system. InBaseband subsystem 502, there are N digital ports, illustrated by 538 a,538 b, 538 c, and 538N. Each digital port is connected to anAnalog-Digital interface located in a radio transceiver chain. Thus,digital port 538 a is connected to Analog-Digital interface 539 alocated within radio transceiver chain 533 a. Similarly, 538 b isconnected to 539 b within 533 b, 538 c is connected to 539 c within 533c, and 538N is connected to 539N within 533N. One possible conversion,but not the only possibility, is a digital communication from theBaseband subsystem 502 to any one of the digital ports, then convertedby the Analog-Digital interface connected to that digital port, and thencommunicated via the corresponding radio transceiver chain to a one ormore Subscriber Stations. For example, a digital signal from 502 to 538a, converted to analog by 539 a, and then transmitted by 533 a to agroup of Subscriber Stations. Another possible conversion, but not theonly possibility, is an analog communication from a Subscriber Station,to a radio transceiver chain, converted from analog to digital by theAnalog-Digital interface within the radio transceiver chain, thencommunicated to the corresponding digital port, and finally communicatedto the Baseband subsystem. For example, an analog signal from aSubscriber Station to radio transceiver chain 533 b, converted todigital by Analog-Digital interface 539 b, communicated to Digital port538 b, and then communicated to Baseband subsystem 502.

In FIG. 10B, separate paths are not shown within the Baseband subsystem502 to the Subscriber Stations. The intent is that the Basebandsubsystem 502 is sufficiently strong that it communicates directly witheach of the subsystems, including subsystem 538 a-539 a-533 a, subsystem538 b-539 b-533 b, subsystem 538 c-539 c-533 c, and subsystem538N-539N-533N.

FIG. 10C illustrates one embodiment of multiple signals within aBaseband system 502. In FIG. 10C, Synthesis of digital Baseband signals55 a creates two signals, each of which ultimately communicates withSubscriber Stations over wireless channel 555 a. One such signal is 55 a1 created by 55 a and conveyed to 538 a, then to 539 a and to 533 a,then over wireless channel 555 a to Subscriber Stations. Similarly, asignal 55 a 2 synthesized from 55 a is conveyed from 55 a to 538 b to539 b to 533 b, then over the same wireless channel 555 a to SubscriberStations. The use of the same wireless channel 555 a for both signals,indicates that the same communication is being sent by multiple signals,at substantially the same time, from the Baseband system 502 to theSubscriber Stations, or conversely that a communication from oneSubscriber Station will be received on wireless channel 555 and willtravel via both 533 a to 502 and 533 b to 502. A similar process occursbetween Synthesis of digital Baseband signal 55N and Subscriber Stationsvia wireless channel 555K, in which one signal 55N1 is conveyed from 502to 538 c to 539 c to 533 c to 555K to the Subscriber Stations, or viceversa from one Subscriber Station to 555 k, to 533 c, to 539 c, to 538 cto 55N within Baseband subsystem 502. A second signal 55N2 is conveyedfrom 502 to 538N to 539N to 533N to 555K to the Subscriber Stations, orconversely from a Subscriber Station to 555K to 533N to 539N to 0 538Nand to 55N within Baseband subsystem 502.

Letter K representing the number of wireless channels 555 a-555K in useat any particular time, is by intent not the same as letter Nrepresenting the number of radio transceiver chains 553 a-553 N. K maybe equal N, indicating a one-to-one match between number of wirelesschannels 555 a-555K in operation and number of signals 55 a 1 & 55 a 2and 55N1 & 55N2 from 502 through syntheses of digital signals 55 a & 55Nto radio transceiver chains 533 a-533N, hence to antennas 577 a-577N andSubscriber Stations. K may be less than N, indicating there are fewerwireless channels 555 a-555K than signals 55 a 1 & 55 a 2 and 55N1 &55N2, and this may occur when a transmission is to be repeated in twomore simultaneously conveyed signals. When a transmission is made on twoor more signals as opposed to only one signal, even when all the signalsare propagated on the same radio frequency, that transmission willtypically have a higher radio system gain than a transmission on onlyone signal, which means generally that a transmission with multiplesignals can have, in comparison to a transmission with one signal, anyof a higher quality link (typically measured by S/N ratio), a greaterdistance propagation, a greater penetration power, higher data rate, ora combination of any of the foregoing.

In some embodiments, the number of Syntheses of digital Baseband signals55 a & 55N may be dynamically altered to meet temporal system demands.In some embodiments, the number of wireless channels 555 a-555K may bedynamically altered to meet temporal system demands. The number of eachof these elements, the Syntheses and the wireless channels, isindependent from the numbers of the other elements, except that Kchannels may not exceed N communication paths, and the number ofsyntheses may not exceed N digital Baseband signals.

There are many alternative embodiments in the generation of signals toand from antennas the Subscriber Stations. For example, antennas may bea single antenna connected to a radio transceiver chain, or there may bephased array signals in use, or MIMO signal in use, or any othercommunication configuration. For example, there may be phased-arraycoherent reception, Maximal Ratio Combining (MRC), Minimum Mean SquareError (MMSE), Maximum Likelihood (ML), or any other number of algorithmsin the transmission or reception of a wireless signal.

In one embodiment, there is a wireless Base Station (BS) system 100 b,operative to assign dynamically a plurality of radio transceiver chains533 a-533N among a varying number of wireless channels 555 a-555N. Thiswireless BS system 100 b may include a Baseband (BB) subsystem 502,which itself may include N digital ports 538 a-538N, operative tosynthesize 55 a & 55N N digital Baseband (BB) signals 55 a 1 & 555 a 2and 55 n 1 & 55 n 2 associated with K wireless channels 555 a & 555K,wherein (1) N is equal to at least 2, (2) K is equal to at most N, and(3) K is equal to at least 1. The wireless BS system 100 b may alsoinclude N radio transceiver chains 533 a-533N, each of which may beconnected to one of the N digital ports 538 a-538N of the BB subsystem502 via an Analog-Digital interface 539 a-539N. The wireless BS system100 b may be configured to (A) set dynamically K according to a firstcriterion, wherein K is a number between 1 and N, (B) assign dynamicallythe N radio transceiver chains 533 as-533N among the K wireless channels555 a-555K according to a second criterion such that each radiotransceiver chain 533 a-533N is assigned to only one of the wirelesschannels 555 a-555K, (C) synthesize 55 a-55N, by the BB subsystem 502,the N digital BB signals 55 a 1 & 55 a 2 and 55N1 & 55N2 associated withthe K wireless channels 555 a-555K, and (D) input the N digital BBsignals to the N radio transceiver chains 553 a-533N via thecorresponding N digital ports 538 a-538N and the correspondingAnalog-Digital interfaces 539 a-539N, thereby transmitting the Kwireless channels 555 a-555K via the N radio transceiver chains 533a-533N. This embodiment will be called “the Dynamic Assignmentembodiment”, and seven alternatives to this embodiment are describedbelow.

In a first alternative embodiment of the Dynamic Assignment embodiment,the number of wireless channels K 555 a-555K is smaller than the numberof radio transceiver chains N 533 a-533N, which may mean that at leastone of the wireless channels 555 a-555K is transmitted via at least twoof the radio transceiver chains 533 a-533N. In one configuration of thisalternative embodiment, at least two of the N digital Baseband signals55 a 1 & 55 a 2 and 55N1 & 55N2 driving the at least two of the radiotransceiver chains 533 a-533N comprise at least two Multiple InputMultiple Output (MIMO) signals, thereby transmitting the at least one ofthe wireless channels using a MIMO scheme. In a second configuration ofthis alternative embodiment, at least two of the N digital Basebandsignals 55 a 1 & 55 a 2 and 55N1 & 55N2 driving the at least two of theradio Transceiver chains 533 a-533N comprise at least two phased-arraysignals, thereby transmitting the at least one of the wireless channels555 a-555K using a phased-array scheme comprising the at least two ofthe radio transceiver chains 533 a-533N.

FIG. 11 illustrates one embodiment of multiple signals within a Basebandsystem 502. FIG. 11 is different in two respects from FIG. 10C. First,there is only one Synthesis of digital Baseband signals 56 a in FIG. 11,as opposed to two in FIG. 10C. The meaning is that all of the N digitalBaseband signals in FIGS. 11 56 a 1, 56 a 2, 56 a 3, and 56 aN, aregenerated by a signal Synthesis 56 a within the Baseband subsystem 502.Second, in FIG. 11 there is only one wireless channel 556 a, driven bythe same four radio transceiver chains 533 a-533N, whereas in FIG. 10Cthere were two wireless channels from the same four radio transceiverchains 533 a-533N. Where there are more chains driving one wirelesschannel, as there are here in FIG. 11, (1) the system gain for thiswireless channel will be higher, in both directions, that is, from theradio transceiver chains to the Subscriber Stations, and from theSubscriber Stations to the radio transceiver chains, or (2) the datacapacity of this wireless channel will increase.

FIG. 12 illustrates one embodiment of a Baseband subsystem 502 in awireless BS system 100 b, operative to assign dynamically a plurality ofradio transceiver chains 533 a-533N among a varying number of wirelesschannels 555 a-555N. The Baseband system 502 includes a single Basebandprocessor 601, which is operative to generate substantiallysimultaneously the K wireless channels 555 a-555K and the correspondingN Baseband digital signals 55 a 1 & 55 a 2 and 55N1 & 55N2, according tothe setting of K.

FIG. 13 illustrates one embodiment of a Baseband subsystem 502 in awireless BS system 100 b, operative to assign dynamically a plurality ofradio transceiver chains 533 a-533N among a varying number of wirelesschannels 555 a-555N. The Baseband system comprises two or more Basebandprocessors 601 a & 601K, which are operative to generate substantiallysimultaneously the K wireless channels 555 a-555N and the correspondingN Baseband digital signals 55 a 1 & 55 a 2 and 55N1 & 55N2, according tothe setting of K.

FIG. 14 illustrates one embodiment of the subsystem described in FIG.13. In FIG. 14, there is a Configurable digital interconnect subsystem690, which interconnects each of the Baseband processors 601 a-601K withat least some of the N digital ports 538 a-538N, according to thesetting of K and according to the assignment of the N radio transceiverchains 533 a-533N among the K wireless channels 555 a-555K.

In a second alternative embodiment of the Dynamic Assignment Embodiment,there is a wireless Base Station (BS) system 100 b, operative to assigndynamically a plurality of radio transceiver chains 533 a-533N among avarying number of wireless channels 555 a-555N. This wireless BS system100 b may include a Baseband (BB) subsystem 502, which itself mayinclude N digital ports 538 a-538N, operative to synthesize 55 a & 55N Ndigital Baseband (BB) signals 55 a 1 & 555 a 2 and 55 n 1 & 55 n 2associated with K wireless channels 555 a & 555K, wherein (1) N is equalto at least 2, (2) K is equal to at most N, and (3) K is equal to atleast 1, wherein the wireless BS system 100 b may be configured to setdynamically K according to the distance between a Subscriber Station andthe wireless BS 100 b, such that during the operation phase of thewireless BS 100 b when the Subscriber Stations are relatively distantfrom the wireless BS 100 b, K is set to 1, thereby creating a singlewireless channel 556 a transmitting via the N radio transceiver chains533 a-533N and increasing the range of the single wireless channel 556 ato facilitate communication with the relatively distant SubscriberStation. This alternative embodiment will be called “embodiment whereinitial K=1”, and several alternative embodiments to this embodimentwill be described below.

In a first alternative embodiment of an embodiment in which initial K=1,N digital Baseband signals 56 a-56N driving the N radio transceiverchains 533 a-533N comprise N phased-array signals, thereby transmittingthe single wireless channel 556 a using a phased-array scheme comprisingthe N radio transceiver chains 533 a-533N, wherein the Basebandsubsystem 502 is reconfigured to generate the N phased-array signalsaccordingly.

In a second alternative embodiment of an embodiment in which initialK=1, during a later operation phase of the wireless BS 100 b when theSubscriber Stations become closer to the wireless BS 100 b, K is set toat least two, such that each of the wireless channels 555 a & 555K istransmitting via less than the N radio transceiver chains 533 a-533N,thereby decreasing the range of the wireless channels 555 a & 555K, butincreasing data throughput of the wireless BS 100 b.

In such second alternative embodiment of an embodiment in which initialK=1, one alternative configuration occurs during or after a transitionfrom a single wireless channel operation to at least two wirelesschannels operation. At or after this transition, the Baseband subsystem502 is reconfigured to transition between a single wireless channelN-phased-array operation using wireless channel 556 a to a multiplewireless channels MIMO operation using wireless channels 555 a-555K.

In such second alternative embodiment of an embodiment in which initialK=1, one alternative configuration occurs during or after a transitionfrom a single wireless channel operation to at least two wirelesschannels operation. At or after such transition, the Baseband subsystem502 is reconfigured to transition between a transmission schemeincluding a single wireless channel N-level coherent phase transmission,to a transmission scheme comprising multiple wireless channels MIMOoperation. In this alternative configuration, an additional possibilityis that the Baseband subsystem 502 is reconfigured to transition betweenan N-level combining-algorithm reception mode to a multiple wirelesschannels MIMO reception mode, in which the N-level combining-algorithmreception mode may be any one of phased-array coherent reception,Maximal Ratio Combining (MRC), Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE) andMaximum Likelihood (ML), or any combination of such alternativereception modes.

In such second alternative embodiment of an embodiment in which initialK=1, one alternative configuration occurs during or after a transitionfrom a single wireless channel operation to at least two wirelesschannels operation. At or after such transition, the Baseband subsystem502 is reconfigured to transition between a transmission schemeincluding Cyclic Delay Diversity (CDD), to a transmission schemecomprising multiple wireless channels MIMO operation. In thisalternative configuration, an additional possibility is that theBaseband subsystem 502 is reconfigured to transition between an N-levelcombining-algorithm reception mode to a multiple wireless channels MIMOreception mode, in which the N-level combining-algorithm reception modemay be any one of Phased-array coherent reception, Maximal RatioCombining (MRC), Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE) and Maximum Likelihood(ML), or any combination of such alternative reception modes.

In such second alternative embodiment of an embodiment in which initialK=1, one alternative configuration occurs during the initial operationphrase of the wireless BS 100 b, when all the aggregated transmissionpower of the N radio transceiver chains 533 a-533N is used for thetransmission of a single wireless channel 556 a, thereby maximizing therange of the single wireless channel 556 a. In this alternativeconfiguration, a further configuration occurs in a later operation phaseof the wireless BS 100 b, when each of the wireless channels 555 a-555Kis transmitting with less than the N radio transceiver chains 533a-533N, and therefore with less power than the aggregated transmissionpower of the N radio transceiver chains 533 a-533N, thereby decreasingthe range of each of the wireless channels 555 a-555N and decreasinginter-cell interferences with close-by wireless Base Stations.

In a third alternative embodiment of the Dynamic Assignment embodiment,there is a wireless Base Station (BS) system 100 b, operative to assigndynamically a plurality of radio transceiver chains 533 a-533N among avarying number of wireless channels 555 a-555N. Such system includes aBaseband subsystem 502 comprising N digital ports 538 a-538N, operativeto synthesize 55 a-55N N digital Baseband signals 55 a 1 & 55 a 2 and55N1 & 55N2 associated with K wireless channels 555 a-555K, wherein N isequal to at least 2, K is equal to at most N, and K is equal to atleast 1. The Baseband processor 502 includes a single Baseband processor601 operative to generate substantially simultaneously the K wirelesschannels 555 a-555N and the corresponding N digital Baseband signals 55a 1 & 55 a 2 and 55N1 & 55N2, according to the setting of K. In thisembodiment, one configuration is where the Baseband processor 601comprises an ASIC. In this embodiment, an alternative configuration isthat the Baseband processor 601 comprises an FPGA. In this embodiment,an alternative configuration is that the Baseband processor 602comprises a Digital Signal Processor (DSP). In the alternativeconfiguration in which the Baseband processor 602 comprises a DSP, thesimultaneous generation of K wireless channels 555 a-555N and thecorresponding N digital Baseband signals 55 a 1 & 55 a 2 and 55N1 &55N2, is done at least in part in software running on the DSP.

In a fourth alternative embodiment of the Dynamic Assignment embodiment,there is a wireless Base Station (BS) system 100 b, operative to assigndynamically a plurality of radio transceiver chains 533 a-533N among avarying number of wireless channels 555 a-555N. The system includes aBaseband subsystem 502, which comprises at least two Baseband processors601 a & 601K operative to generate substantially simultaneously Kwireless channels 555 a-555N and the corresponding N digital Basebandsignals 55 a 1 & 55 a 2 and 55N1 & 55N2, according to the setting of K.In one configuration of this fourth alternative embodiment, each of theBaseband processors 601 a & 601K is operative to generate one of the Kwireless channels 555 a-555N and the corresponding N digital Basebandsignals 55 a 1 & 55 a 2 and 55N1 & 55N2.

In a fifth alternative embodiment of the Dynamic Assignment embodiment,there is a wireless Base Station (BS) system 100 b, operative to assigndynamically a plurality of radio transceiver chains 533 a-533N among avarying number of wireless channels 555 a-555N. In this system, thesecond criterion is based on assigning more radio transceiver chains towireless channels requiring longer range.

In one configuration of this fifth alternative embodiment, in order toachieve long range, radio transceiver chains 533 a-533N convey N-levelcoherent phase transmissions, and receives combinable signals enablingutilization of reception algorithms such as (1) Phased-array coherentreception, (2) Maximal Ratio Combining (MRC), (3) Minimum Mean SquareError (MMSE) and (4) Maximum Likelihood (ML). In a further possiblealternative embodiment of this configuration, the Baseband subsystem 502is reconfigured to use the combinable signals as at least some of the Ndigital Baseband signals 55 a 1 & 55 a 2 and 55N1 & 55N2, uponexercising the assignment based on the second criterion.

In one configuration of this fifth alternative embodiment, in order toachieve long rang, radio transceiver chains 533 a-533N convey CyclicDelay Diversity (CDD) signals, and/or receive combinable signalsenabling utilization of reception algorithms such as (1) Phased-arraycoherent reception, (2) Maximal Ratio Combining (MRC), (3) Minimum MeanSquare Error (MMSE) and (4) Maximum Likelihood (ML). In a furtherpossible alternative embodiment of this configuration, the Basebandsubsystem 502 is reconfigured to use the combinable signals as at leastsome of the N digital Baseband signals 55 a 1 & 55 a 2 and 55N1 & 55N2,upon exercising the assignment based on the second criterion.

In a sixth alternative embodiment of the Dynamic Assignment embodiment,there is a wireless Base Station (BS) system 100 b, operative to assigndynamically a plurality of radio transceiver chains 533 a-533N among avarying number of wireless channels 555 a-555N. In this system, thesecond criterion is based on assigning more radio transceiver chains 533a-533N to wireless channels requiring relatively high data throughputrates, and the radio transceiver chains 533 a-533N convey MIMO signalsthe help obtain relatively high data throughput rates. In oneconfiguration of this sixth alternative embodiment, the Basebandsubsystem 502 is reconfigured to synthesize the MIMO signals as at leastsome of the N digital Baseband signals 55 a 1 & 55 a 2 and 55N1 & 55N2,upon exercising the assignment based on the second criterion.

In a seventh alternative embodiment of the Dynamic Assignmentembodiment, there is a wireless Base Station (BS) system 100 b,operative to assign dynamically a plurality of radio transceiver chains533 a-533N among a varying number of wireless channels 555 a-555N. Inthis system, at least one of the antennas 577 a-577N connected to the Nradio transceiver chains 533 a-533N is an omni-directional antenna, andany wireless channel 555 a-555N propagated by an omni-directionalchannel can span substantially a 360 degree coverage area around thewireless BS, regardless of an assignment of radio transceiver chains 533a-533N among the wireless channels 555 a-555N.

FIG. 15A illustrates one embodiment of a system state at a particularpoint of time. In FIG. 15A, there is a Baseband subsystem 502, whichincludes a Synthesis of Baseband signals 56 a, which synthesizes Nnumber of signals 56 a 1, 56 a 2, 56 a 3, through 56 aN, sent to Nnumber of radio transceiver chains 533 a-533N. These signals are thenconveyed by the radio transceiver chains over a single wireless channel556 a associated with a particular frequency range 710 a. FIG. 15A showsan initial state, or in other words an initial phase, of an operation,during which there is communication with a group of wireless SubscriberStations 777 d located relatively distantly from the radio transceiverchains 533 a-533N. The system state in FIG. 15A is a two-way system, asare all the system FIGS. 10A, 10C, and 11. The uplink path from 777 d to502 conveys signals in an order opposite from that of the downlink path.This initial state or initial phase of system operation is illustratedin FIG. 15A may be called a “range extension mode”.

FIG. 15B illustrates one embodiment of a system state at a point of timethat is different from the point of time illustrated in FIG. 15A. In15B, there is a Baseband subsystem 502, which includes a Synthesis ofdigital Baseband signals 55 a and 55N, which synthesizes N number ofsignals 55 a 1 & 55 a 2 associated with 55 a and 55N1 & 55N2 associatedwith 55N, sent to N number of radio transceiver chains 533 a-533N. Thesesignals are then conveyed by the radio transceiver chains over K numberof wireless channels 555 a and 555K, associated with particularfrequency ranges, 710 a and 710K, respectively. FIG. 15B, shows a laterstate, or in other words a later phase, of an operation, during whichthere is communication with K groups of wireless Subscriber Stations,777 n 1 using frequency range 710 a, and 777 n 2 using frequency range710K, respectively. These two groups are located relatively nearby tothe radio transceiver chains 533 a-533N. The system state in FIG. 15B isa two-way system, as are all the system FIGS. 10A, 10C, and 11. Theuplink paths from 777 n 1 to 502 and from 777 n 2 to 502, convey signalsin an order opposite from that of the downlink paths. The subsequentstate or subsequent phase illustrated in FIG. 15B may be called an“enhanced capacity mode”.

There is a transition in time from FIG. 15A to FIG. 15B. Initially, thesystem can achieve long-range communication for a relatively few numberof Subscriber Stations. In the range extension mode, the system does notdiscriminate against nearby Subscriber Stations, so that there iscommunication with both relatively distant and relatively nearbySubscriber Stations, but one feature of the system is that it cancommunicate with relatively distant Subscriber Stations. In a subsequentstage called the enhanced capacity mode, system utilization hasincreased, the system communicates with more Subscriber Stations, butthese Subscriber Stations are located relatively nearby to the radiotransceiver chains. Greater capacity is achieved in the enhancedcapacity mode by increasing the number of wireless channels, and hencedecreasing the number of signals on each channel, all without increasinghardware or system resources. Greater capacity is achieved byeliminating or at least inhibiting communication between the radiotransceiver chains and relatively distant Subscriber Stations. Switchingbetween range extension mode and enhanced capacity mode is dynamic, andmay change relatively rapidly in accordance with available systemresources and relative Subscriber Station demand at any particular pointin time.

FIG. 16 illustrates a flow diagram describing one method fortransitioning from a range extension mode to an enhanced capacity modein a wireless Base Station 100 b. In step 1041, a wireless Base Station100 b assigning N radio transceiver chains 533 a-533N to a firstwireless channel 556 a associated with a first frequency range 710 a. Instep 1042, the wireless Base Station 100 b communicating data wirelesslyduring an initial operation phase, with distant Subscribed Stations 777d, over the first wireless channel 556 a, via the N radio transceiverchains 533 a-533N, thereby utilizing the aggregated transmission powerand the aggregated reception capability of the N radio transceiverchains 533 a-533N to reach the distant Subscriber Stations 777 d. Instep 1043, the wireless Base Station 100 b stopping communication withthe distant Subscriber Stations 777 d at the end of the initialoperation phase. In step 1044, the wireless Base Station 100 b assigninga first subset 533 a & 533 b of the N radio transceiver chains to afirst wireless channel 555 a associated with a the first frequency range710 a, and a second subset 533 c & 533N of the N radio transceiverchains to a second wireless channel 555K associated with a secondfrequency range 710K. In step 1045, the wireless Base Station 100 bwirelessly communicating data with nearby Subscriber Stations 777 n 1 &777 n 2, over the first 555 a and second 555K wireless channels,respectively, via the first subset 553 a & 555 b and second subset 555 c& 555K of the N radio transceiver chains, respectively, therebyutilizing the aggregated spectrum of the first and second frequencyranges to enhance data capability of the wireless Base Station.

An alternative embodiment of the method immediately described furtherincludes using an N-level coherent-phase transmission scheme over the Nradio transceiver chains 533 a-533N to communicate data wirelessly viathe first wireless channel 555 a during the initial operation phrase.

A particular configuration of the alternative embodiment of the methoddescribed above includes using an N-level combining-algorithm such asPhased-array coherent reception, MRC, MMSE and ML, in order to utilizethe aggregated reception capability of the N radio transceiver chains533 a-533N during the initial operation phase.

In a further refinement of the particular configuration of thealternative embodiment of the method described above, further including,when the initial operation phase has ended, stopping use of the N-levelcoherent-phase transmission scheme and the N-level combining-algorithm,and starting use of MIMO transmission and reception schemes for at leastone of the first 555 a and second 555K wireless channels.

FIG. 17 illustrates one embodiment of components comprising a system fordirect communication between multiple Core Networks and a wireless BaseStation (BS), and between the wireless BS and multiple Radio AccessNetworks (RANs). Wireless Base Station (BS) 100 c communicates over abackhaul link 105 and network 101 with a plurality of data sources,including at least a First Core Network data source 102 a and a SecondCore Network data source 102 b. The wireless BS 100 c also generates aFirst Radio Access Network 809 a, which includes wireless SubscriberStations 808, and a Second RAN 809 b.

FIG. 18A illustrates one embodiment of a point in time during which tworadio transceiver chains have been allocated over one channel to a firstRAN, and two other radio transceiver chains have been allocated over asecond channel to a second RAN. Wireless Base Station 100 c includes oneor more network processors 201 c, one or more Baseband Processors 502 c,and three or more radio transceiver chains 833 a, 833 b, 833 c, and833N. A First Core Network data source 102 a communicates a first dataset 900 a to the wireless Base Station 100 c, which is then processed bythe network processor 201 c and the Baseband Processor 502 c. A SecondCore Network data source 102 b communicates a second data set 900 b tothe wireless Base Station 100 c, which is then processed by the networkprocess 201 c and the Baseband Processor 502 c. The Baseband Processor502 c includes a plurality of syntheses of signals, here a firstsynthesis of signals 955 a and a second synthesis of signals 955N. Eachsynthesis of signals will generate one or multiple signals to beconveyed over one or more radio transceiver networks to a RAN. At thepoint of time illustrated in FIG. 18A, synthesis 955 a creates twosignals which wirelessly convey the first data set 901 a using each oftwo radio transceiver chains 833 a and 833 b, over a first RAN 809 a, toa group of Subscriber Stations 808 a. Substantially simultaneously, 955Ncreates two signals that wirelessly convey the second data set 901 busing each of two radio transceiver chains 833 c and 833N, over a secondRAN 809 b, to a group of Subscriber Stations 808 b.

FIG. 18B presents one embodiment of a Baseband Processor 502 c and theassociated radio transceiver chains. In FIG. 18B, synthesis of signals955 a creates two signals. One signal, signal 955 a 1, is conveyed to aradio transceiver chain 833 a, then to an antenna 977 a, then wirelesslyconveying a first data set 901 a to a first RAN. A second signal createdby 955 a is signal 955 a 2, which is conveyed to a radio transceiverchain 833 b, then to an antenna 977 b, then wirelessly conveying thefirst data set 901 a to a first RAN. Substantially simultaneously,synthesis of signals 955N creates two signals. One signal, signal 955N1,is conveyed to a radio transceiver chain 833 c, then to an antenna 977c, then wirelessly conveying a second data set 901 b to a second RAN. Asecond signal created by 955N is signal 955N2, which is conveyed to aradio transceiver chain 833N, then to an antenna 977N, then wirelesslyconveying the second data set 901 b to a second RAN.

For FIGS. 18A and 18B, it may be appreciated that there must be at leasta plurality of RANs, but there may be two RANs or any other numberhigher than two. FIGS. 18A and 18B illustrate an embodiment in whichthere are four radio transceiver chains, but there may be three suchchains, four chains, or any number higher than four, provided that eachof a plurality of RANs has at least one radio transceiver chain, and atleast one of said plurality of RANs has two or more radio transceiverchains at a particular moment in time.

FIG. 19A illustrates one embodiment of a point in time during whichthree radio transceiver chains have been allocated over one channel to afirst RAN, and one other radio transceiver chain has been allocated overa second channel to a second RAN. Wireless Base Station 100 c includesone or more network processors 201 c, one or more Baseband Processors502 c, and three or more radio transceiver chains 833 a, 833 b, 833 c,and 833N. A First Core Network data source 102 a communicates a firstdata set 900 a to the wireless Base Station 100 c. A Second Core Networkdata source 102 b communicates a second data set 900 b to the wirelessBase Station 100 c. The Baseband Processor 502 c includes a plurality ofsyntheses of signals, here a first synthesis of signals 956 a and asecond synthesis of signals 956N. Each synthesis of signals willgenerate one or multiple signals to be conveyed over one more radiotransceiver networks to a RAN. At the point of time illustrated in FIG.19A, synthesis 956 a creates three signals which wirelessly convey thefirst data set 901 a 2 using each of three radio transceiver chains 833a, 833 b, and 833 c, over a first RAN 809 a, to a group of SubscriberStations 808 a. Substantially simultaneously, 956N creates one signalthat wirelessly conveys the second data set 901 b 2 using one radiotransceiver chain 833N, over a second RAN 809 b, to a group ofSubscriber Stations 808 b.

FIG. 19B presents one embodiment of a Baseband Processor 502 c and theassociated radio transceiver chains. In FIG. 19B, synthesis of signals956 a creates three signals. One signal, signal 956 a 1, is conveyed toa radio transceiver chain 833 a, then to an antenna 977 a, thenwirelessly conveying a first data set 901 a 2 over a first RAN. A secondsignal created by 956 a is signal 956 a 2, which is conveyed to a radiotransceiver chain 833 b, then to an antenna 977 b, then wirelesslyconveying the first data set 901 a 2 over the first RAN. A third signalcreated by 956 a is signal 956 a 3, which is conveyed to a radiotransceiver chain 833 c, then to an antenna 977 c, then wirelesslyconveying the first data set 9901 a 2 over the first RAN. Substantiallysimultaneously, synthesis of signals 956N creates one signal, signal956N1, which is conveyed to a radio transceiver chain 833N, then to anantenna 977N, then wirelessly conveying a second data set 901 b 2 over asecond RAN.

For FIGS. 19A and 19B, it may be appreciated that there must be at leasta plurality of RANs, but there may be two RANs or any other numberhigher than two. FIGS. 19A and 19B illustrate an embodiment in whichthere are four radio transceiver chains, but there may be three suchchains, four chains, or any number higher than four, provided that eachof a plurality of RANs has at least one radio transceiver chain, and atleast one of said plurality of RANs has two or more radio transceiverchains at a particular moment in time.

FIGS. 18A and 18B illustrate one embodiment of a system at a particularpoint in time. FIGS. 19A and 19B illustrate one embodiment of the samesystem at a different point of time. In the first point in time, fourradio transceiver chains have been allocated, two chains to each of twoRANs. In the second point of time, four radio transceiver chains havebeen allocated, three chains to a first RAN and one chain to a secondRAN.

It may be appreciated that there must be at least three radiotransceiver chains in all embodiments. The reason is that allembodiments include (1) at least two operating RANs, and all embodimentsinclude (2) an ability to re-allocate at least one RAN from one Operatorto another Operator. As to (1), A radio transceiver chain is part of theinfrastructure that creates the RAN, so that a RAN can exist only if atleast one radio transceiver chain is allocated to it. Since allembodiments include at least two RANs, and each RAN must have at leastone radio transceiver chain, hence every embodiment will include atleast two radio transceiver chains to create the at least two RANs. Asto (2), all embodiments have the potential to switch at least one radiotransceiver chain from one Operator to another Operator, hence everyembodiment will include at least three radio transceiver chains. Indeed,FIGS. 18A and 18B show a configuration at one point in time, while FIGS.19A and 19B show the same system at a different point of time in whichone of the radio transceiver chains, 833 c, has been re-allocated fromthe second RAN to the first RAN.

In one embodiment, a wireless Base Station (BS) 100 c system isoperative to communicate directly with multiple Core Network datasources 102 a & 102 b on one side and directly provided multiplecorresponding Radio Access Networks (RANs) 809 a and 809 b on the otherside. Such a system may include a network processor 201 c operative tocommunicate with a first and a second Core Network data sources 102 aand 102 b, at least one Baseband Processor 502 c operative to createfirst and second RANs 809 a & 809 b substantially simultaneously, and apool of at least three radio transceiver chains 833 a, 833 b, 833 c, and833N operative to accommodate the at least one Baseband Processor 502 cin creating the first and second RANs 809 a and 809 b substantiallysimultaneously. Such a system may allocate dynamically the pool of theat least three radio transceiver chains 833 a, 833 b, 833 c, and 833N,between the first and second RANs 809 a and 809 b according to acriterion, reconfigure the at least one Baseband Processor 502 c tomaintain the first and second RANs 809 a and 809 b according to therecent allocation, and operate the first and second RANs 809 a and 809 busing data communicated with the first and second Core Network datasources 102 a and 102 b, respectively.

In one alternative embodiment of such a system, the criterion may bebased on dynamic data rate requirements of at least one of the CoreNetwork data sources 102 a and 102 b, such that when the dynamic datarate requirements of the first Core Network data source 102 a exceed thedynamic data rate requirements of the second Core Network data source102 b, more radio transceiver chains of those available in the system833 a, 833 b, 833 c, and 833N, are allocated to the first RAN 809 a ascompared to the second RAN 809 b. In one configuration of thisalternative embodiment, at least one of the radio transceiver chains 833a, 833 b, 833 c, and 833N that have been allocated to at least one ofthe RANs 809 a and 809 b convey Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO)signals 955 a 1 and 955 a 2.

In a second alternative embodiment of the wireless Base Station (BS) 100c system operative to directly communicate with multiple Core Networkdata sources 102 a & 102 b on one side and directly provided multiplecorresponding Radio Access Networks (RANs) 809 a and 809 b on the otherside, the criterion is based on measuring data rates over at least oneof the RANs 809 a and 809 b, such that more of the radio transceiverchains 833 a, 833 b, 833 c, and 833N, are allocated to the first RAN 809a as compared to the second RAN 809 b, as a result of measuring higherdata rates over the first RAN 809 a as compared to the second RAN 809 b.In one configuration of this alternative embodiment, at least one of theradio transceiver chains 833 a, 833 b, 833 c, and 833N, allocated to atleast one of the RANs 809 a and 809 b convey Multiple Input MultipleOutput (MIMO) signals.

In a third alternative embodiment of the wireless Base Station (BS) 100c system operative to directly communicate with multiple Core Networkdata sources 102 a & 102 b on one side and directly provided multiplecorresponding Radio Access Networks (RANs) 809 a and 809 b on the otherside, the criterion is based on system gain requirements of the RANs 809a and 809 b, such that when the first RAN 809 a requires a higher systemgain than the system gain required by the second RAN 809 b, more radiotransceiver chains are allocated to the first RAN 809 a than to thesecond RAN 109 b.

In one configuration of this alternative embodiment, the radiotransceiver chains allocated to at least one of the RANs convey signalsbelonging to a wireless communication scheme selected from a groupconsisting of Phased-array coherent communication, Maximal RatioCombining (MRC), Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE) and Maximum Likelihood(ML).

In a fourth alternative embodiment of the wireless Base Station (BS) 100c system operative to directly communicate with multiple Core Networkdata sources 102 a & 102 b on one side and directly provided multiplecorresponding Radio Access Networks (RANs) 809 a and 809 b on the otherside, reconfiguring the at least one Baseband Processor to maintain thefirst and second RANs 809 a and 809 b according to the recentallocation, further includes performing first and a second signalsyntheses 955 a and 955N, or 956 a and 956N, by the at least oneBaseband Processor, in which the first synthesis is associated with thefirst RAN 809 a and the second synthesis is associated with the secondRAN 809 b, and in which each sign synthesis creates at least onebaseband signal, one of 955 a 1, 955 a 2, 955N1, or 955N2 in FIG. 18B,or one of 956 a 1, 956 a 2, 956 a 3, or 956 aN in FIG. 19B, according tothe allocation of radio transceiver chains among the RANs 809 a and 809b.

There are at least two alternative configurations to the fourthalternative embodiment just described. In one alternative configuration,the first signal synthesis 955 a or 956 a synthesizes at least twobaseband signals, and the at least two baseband signals belong to awireless communication scheme selected from a group consisting ofPhased-array coherent communication, Maximal Ratio Combining (MRC),Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE) and Maximum Likelihood (ML).

In a second alternative configuration to the fourth alternativeembodiment just described, at least the first signal synthesis 955 a or956 a synthesizes at least two baseband signals, and these at least twobaseband signals are Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) signals.

FIG. 20 is a flow diagram illustrating one method for dynamicallygenerating a plurality of Radio Access Networks (RANs) 809 a & 809 b bya single wireless Base Station (BS) 100 c. In step 1051, determiningdynamically a first number of radio transceiver chains and a secondnumber of radio transceiver chains needed by a wireless BS 100 c toconvey wirelessly data communicated with a first corresponding CoreNetwork data source 102 a and a second corresponding Core Network datasource 102 b. In step 1052, allocating the first and the second numbersof radio transceiver chains, out of a pool of radio transceiver chains833 a-833N belonging to the wireless BS 100 c, to a first RAN 809 a anda second RAN 809 b of the wireless BS 100 c, respectively. In step 1053,communicating, by the wireless BS 100 c, a first and a second data setswith the first Core Network 102 a and the second Core Network 102 b datasources respectively. In step 1054, conveying wirelessly, by thewireless BS 100 c, to a first set 808 a and a second set 808 b ofwireless Subscriber Stations (SS), the first and the second data sets,over the first and the second RANs respectively.

An alternative embodiment of the method just described, furthercomprising determining from time to time the first and second numbers ofradio transceiver chains needed by the wireless BS 100 c to conveywirelessly the first and second data sets, and allocating from time totime the first and second numbers of radio transceiver chains.

One possible configuration of the alternative embodiment just describedis such alternative embodiment, further comprising determining the firstand the second number of radio transceiver chains according to first andsecond data rate associated with communicating the first and second datasets, respectively. One possible permutation of this configurationfurther comprises measuring the first and second data rates. A secondpossible permutation of this configuration further comprises queryingthe first 102 a and second 102 b Core Network data sources for the firstand second data rates, respectively.

A second possible configuration of the alternative embodiment justdescribed is said alternative embodiment, wherein at some point in timemost of the pool of radio transceiver chains is allocated to the firstRAN. One possible permutation of this configuration is the configurationwherein in at some point in time most of the pool of radio transceiverchains is allocated to the second RAN.

A third possible configuration of the alternative embodiment justdescribed is such alternative embodiment, further comprising determiningthe first and second numbers of radio transceiver chains according to afirst distance of Subscriber Stations (SS) from the wireless BS 100 c,and a second distance of Subscriber Stations from the wireless BS,respectively.

A second alternative embodiment to the method described is said method,further comprising communicating the first and second data sets with thefirst 102 a and second 102 b Core Network data sources using at leastone Backhaul link 105.

One possible configuration of this second alternative embodiment is saidsecond alternative embodiment, wherein the at least one Backhaul link105 comprises a first network Tunnel connecting the first Core Networkdata source 102 a with the wireless BS 100 c, and a second networkTunnel connecting the second Core Network data source 102 b with thewireless BS 100 c. One possible permutation of this configuration of thesecond alternative embodiment is said second alternative embodiment, inwhich the wireless BS 100 c is an integrated Pico-BS, having the networkTunnels directly connected to the first 102 a and second 102 b CoreNetwork data sources, and the Pico-BS substantially does not require adedicated infrastructure to facilitate connectivity with the CoreNetworks data sources 102 a & 102 b other than the at least one Backhaullink 105 and an network 101 comprising the Core Network data sources 102a & 102 b.

A second possible configuration of the second alternative embodiment isthe second alternative embodiment, in which the first data set iscommunicated over the first Backhaul link and the second data set iscommunicated over a second Backhaul link.

A third alternative embodiment to the method described is said method,in which the first Core Network data source 102 a belongs to a firstOperator, the second Core Network data source 102 b belongs a secondOperator, the first RAN 809 a is associated with an identity of thefirst Operator, and the second RAN 809 b is associated with the identityof the second Operator.

FIG. 21 is a flow diagram illustrating one method for servicing multipleOperators via a single wireless Base Station (BS) 100 c, utilizingdynamic allocation of radio transceiver chains. In step 1061, a wirelessBS 100 c communicating first and second data sets 900 a & 900 b with afirst Core Network data source 102 a belonging to a first Operator andwith a second Core Network data source 102 b belonging to a secondOperator, respectively. In step 1062, the wireless BS 100 c conveyingwirelessly, to a first set and a second set of wireless SubscriberStations (SS) 808 a & 808 b, the first and the second data sets,respectively, over a first and a second RAN, respectively 809 a & 809 b,utilizing a first set 833 a & 833 b and a second set 833 c & 833N ofradio transceiver chains, respectively. In Step 1063, determining thatthe first set of radio transceiver chains is not sufficient to conveythe first data set. In Step 1064, increasing the number of radiotransceiver chains in the first set, at the expense of the second set,thereby making the first set better suited to convey the first data set.

One alternative embodiment to the method just described is the method,in which increasing the number of radio transceiver chains in the firstset further comprises determining the number of radio transceiver chainsthat can be reduced from the second set of radio transceiver chainswithout substantially impairing the ability of the second set of radiotransceiver chains to convey the second data set, reducing the number ofradio transceiver chains from the second set of radio transceiver chainsand adding the number of radio transceiver chains to the first set ofradio transceiver chains.

A second alternative embodiment to the method for servicing multipleOperators via a single wireless Base Station utilizing dynamicallocation of radio transceiver chains, is such method in which thenumber of radio transceiver chain in the first set further comprisesdetermining a number of radio transceiver chains to be reduced from thesecond set of radio transceiver chains and to be added to the first setof radio transceiver chains such that the number of radio transceiverchains is operative to substantially equate the ability of the first setof radio transceiver chains to convey the first data set with theability of the second set of radio transceiver chains to convey thesecond data set, reducing the number of radio transceiver chains fromthe second set of radio transceiver chains, and adding the number ofradio transceiver chains to the first set of radio transceiver chains.

FIG. 22A presents one embodiment of components comprising a system toallow wireless Subscriber Stations to roam on the wireless Base Stationof a host Operator. On the one side, there is a First Core Network datasource 2102 a belonging to a host Operator, and a Second Core Networkdata source 2102 b belonging to a different Operator, in which thesedata sources are accessed via a Network 2101, which may be the Internetor another network. Element 2102 a is connected by general backhaulchannel 2105 of the host Operator to a wireless Base Station (BS) 2100of the host Operator, and element 2102 b is connected by a dedicatedbackhaul channel 2106 of the other Operator to the wireless BS 2100.Subscriber Stations 2018 a of the host Operator, and Subscriber Stationsof the other Operator 2108 b, use wireless spectrum 2109 of the hostOperator to communicate with the wireless BS 2100.

FIG. 22B presents one embodiment of components comprising a system toallow wireless Subscriber Stations to roam on the wireless Base Stationof a host Operator. FIG. 22B presents one embodiment of possible dataflow between Subscriber Stations and Core Network data sources. There isone data flow 2300 a between a First Core Network data source 2102 abelonging to a first (host) Operator 2102 a′, and a Subscriber Station2108 a associated with the host Operator. Data flows 2300 a to and fromthe data source 2102 a over the general backhaul channel 2105, to andfrom the wireless BS 2100, then over the wireless spectrum 2109 to andfrom the Subscriber Station of the host Operator 2108 a. There is asecond data flow 2300 b between a Second Core Network data source 2102 bbelonging to a second Operator 2102 b′ (the “own Operator” of SubscriberStation 2108 b), and a Subscriber Station 2108 b associated with thesecond Operator. Data flows 2300 b to and from the data source 2102 bover the dedicated backhaul channel 2106, to and from the wireless BS2100, then over the wireless spectrum 2109 to and from the SubscriberStation of the second Operator 2108 b.

FIG. 23 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of the elements ofa method for connecting a Subscriber Station (SS) 2108 b with its ownOperator 2102 b′, using a wireless Base Station (BS) 2100 belonging to adifferent Operator (the “host Operator”) 2102 a′. In step 3001,establishing a wireless connection between (i) a wireless Base Station(BS) 2100 belonging to a first Operator 2102 a′ (which is the hostOperator) and (ii) at least one SS 2108 b associated with a secondOperator 2102 b′ (which is not the host Operator), using wirelessspectrum 2109 belonging to the first Operator 2102 a′. In step 3002,opening a dedicated Backhaul channel 2106 between the wireless BS 2100of the host Operator 2102 a′ and a Core Network data source 2102 bbelonging to the second Operator 2102 b′, wherein said dedicatedBackhaul channel 2106 is used substantially solely for communicatingdata sets between the second Operator 2012 b′ and the at least one SS2108 b. In step 3003, communicating data sets between the Core Networkdata source 2012 b of the second Operator 2102 b′ and the at least oneSS 2108 b, via (i) the dedicated Backhaul channel 2106 and (ii) thewireless BS 2100 using the wireless spectrum 2109.

In a first possible implementation of the method just described, theopening of the Backhaul channel 2106 is done only after establishing thewireless connection. Among other possible advantages, this eliminatesthe need to maintain the dedicated Backhaul channel 2106 in a case inwhich the at least one SS is not connected wirelessly to the wireless BS2100.

In a second possible implementation of the method just described,opening of the dedicated Backhaul channel 2106 is done prior toestablishing the wireless connection. In this way, latency associatedwith opening the dedicated Backhaul channel as a response toestablishing the wireless connection, will be reduced.

In a third possible implementation of the method just described, thededicated Backhaul channel 2106 is a network Tunnel directly connectingthe Second Core Network data source 2102 b with the wireless BaseStation 2100.

In this third possible implementation of the method just described, onefurther possible implementation is that the network Tunnel is anInternet Protocol (IP) Tunnel or a Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE)Tunnel.

In a fourth possible implementation of the method just described, afurther step is opening a general Backhaul channel 2105, belonging tothe first Operator 2102 a′ (the host Operator), between the wireless BS2100 and a Core Network data source 2102 a belonging to the firstOperator 2102 a′, prior to opening the general Backhaul channel 2105,wherein said general Backhaul channel 2105 is used substantially solelyfor communicating data sets between the first Operator 2102 a′ andSubscriber Stations 2180 a associated with the first Operator 2102 a′.Also, communicating data sets between the Core Network data source 2102a belonging to the first Operator 2102 a′ and the Subscriber Stations2108 a associated with the first Operator 2102 a′, via (i) the generalBackhaul channel 2105 and (ii) the wireless BS 2100 using the wirelessspectrum 2109, substantially concurrently with communicating data setsbetween the Core Network data source 2102 b belonging to the secondOperator 2102 b′ and the at least one SS 2108 b associated with thesecond Operator 2102 b′. In this fourth implementation of the methodjust described, traffic is separated at the Backhaul level between (i)data sets communicated between the first Operator's Core Network datasource 2102 a and the first Operator's Subscriber Stations 2108 a, and(ii) data sets communicated between the second Operator's Core Networkdata source 2102 b and the second Operator's Subscriber Stations 2108 b.

In this fourth possible implementation of the method just described, onefurther possible implementation is that both Subscriber Stations 2108 aassociated with the first Operator 2102 a′, and Subscriber Stations 2108b associated with the second Operator 2102 b′, are wirelessly connectedto the wireless BS 2100, via a single Radio Access Network (RAN) 2209created by the wireless BS 2100 using the wireless spectrum 2109,thereby creating a traffic union at the RAN level between (i) data setscommunicated between the first Operator's Core Network data source 2102a and the first Operator's Subscriber Stations 2108 a, and (ii) datasets communicated between the second Operator's Core Network data source2102 b and the second Operator's Subscriber Stations 2108 b.

In this fourth possible implementation of the method just described, asecond further possible implementation is opening and using thededicated Backhaul channel 2106 between the Core Network data source ofthe second Operator 2102 b and the wireless BS 2100 of the firstOperator 2102 a′, thereby facilitating partial roaming. In this secondfurther possible implementation of the fourth possible implementation ofthe method just described, it is possible to eliminate a need of theSubscriber Stations 2108 b associated with the second Operator 2102 b′to use the Core Network data source 2102 a belonging to the firstOperator 2102 a′ or the Core network data sources 2102 a belonging tothe first Operator 210 a′.

In this fourth possible implementation of the method just described, athird further possible implementation is tracking, by the wireless BS2100, the amount of spectrum resources associated with the wirelessspectrum 2109, that are used by the at least one SS 2108 b associatedwith the second Operator 2102 b′. Also, sending data gathered duringtracking to the second Operator 2102 b′. Such data may be used by thefirst Operator 2102 a′ to bill the second Operator 2102 b′ for thepartial roaming services provided by the first Operator 2102 a′.

In a fifth possible implementation of the method just described, afurther step is determining the identity of the second Operator 2102 b′prior to establishing the wireless connection. Also, establishing thewireless connection only if the identity of the second Operator 2102 b′matches a list of approved Operators. In a sixth possible implementationof the method just described, a further step is determining the identityof the second Operator 2102 b′ during or after the course ofestablishing the wireless connection. Also, terminating the wirelessconnection if the identity of the second Operator 2102 b′ does not matcha list of approved Operators.

FIG. 24 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of the elements ofa method for partial roaming. In step 3011, sharing, by a wireless BS2100 belonging to a first Operator 2102 a′, a wireless spectrum 2109belonging to the first Operator 2102 a′, with Subscriber Stations 2108 anot associated with the first Operator 2102 a′. In step 3012,separating, by the wireless BS 2100, at a Backhaul level, traffic of theSubscriber Stations 2108 b not associated with the first Operator 2102a′ from traffic of Subscriber Stations 2108 a associated with the firstOperator 2102 a′, by maintaining at least two separate Backhaulchannels, such that a first Backhaul channel 2105 connects the wirelessBS 2100 with a Core Network data source 2102 a belonging to the firstOperator 2102 a′, and each of the remaining Backhaul channels belongingto another Operator connects the wireless BS 2100 with a Core Networkdata source belonging to that other Operator, respectively. FIGS. 22A,22B, and 25C, show exactly two Operators, including a first Operator2102 a′ and a second Operator 2102 b′, but this is illustrative only. Inall cases, there will be at least a first Operator 2012 a′ and at leastone other Operator, but there may be two, three, any other number, ofother Operators.

In a first possible implementation of the method just described, afurther step wherein each Backhaul channel is a network Tunnel, and eachnetwork Tunnel directly connects the wireless BS 2100 with the CoreNetwork data source to which the network Tunnel is connected.

In this first possible implementation of the method just described, onefurther possible implementation is that the network Tunnel is anInternet Protocol (IP) Tunnel or a Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE)Tunnel.

In a second possible implementation of the method just described,tracking, by the wireless BS 2100, the amount of spectrum resourcesassociated with the wireless spectrum 2109, which are used by SubscriberStations 2180 b not associated with the first Operator 2102 a′. Also,sending data gathered during tracking to Operators associated withSubscriber Stations 2108 b not associated with the first Operator 2102a′, wherein said gathered data may be used by the first Operator 2102 a′to bill the Operators associated with Subscriber Stations 2108 b notassociated with the first Operator 2102 a′.

In a third possible implementation of the method just described, afurther step is determining the identity of Operators associated withthe Subscriber Stations 2108 b not associated with the first Operator2102 a prior to establishing a wireless connection between the wirelessBS 2100 and the Subscriber Stations 2108 b not associated with the firstOperator 2102 a′. Also, establishing a wireless connection forSubscriber Stations associated with a particular Operator only if theidentity of that particular Operator matches a list of approvedOperators.

In a fourth possible implementation of the method just described, afurther step is determining the identity of Operators associated withthe Subscriber Stations 2108 b not associated with the first Operator2102 a′ after establishing a wireless connection between the wireless BS2100 and the Subscriber Stations 2108 b not associated with the firstOperator 2102 a′. Also, terminating the wireless connection forSubscriber Stations associated with a particular Operator if theidentity of that particular Operator does not match a list of approvedOperators.

In one embodiment, there is a system that allows partial roaming. Thesystem includes a First Core Network data source 2102 a belonging to afirst Operator 2102 a′, and a Second Core Network data source 2102 bbelonging to a second Operator 2102 b′. The system also includes awireless BS 2100 belonging to the first Operator 2102 a′, operative tocommunicate with a first set of Subscriber Stations 2108 b associatedwith a second Operator 2102 b′, over a wireless spectrum 2109 belongingto the first Operator 2102 a′. In one embodiment, the system transportstraffic over a general Backhaul channel 2105 connecting the wireless BS2100 to the First Core Network data source 2102 a, between the first setof Subscriber Stations 2108 a and the First Core Network data source2102 a. The system also transports traffic over a dedicated Backhaulchannel 2106 connecting the wireless BS 2100 to the Second Core Networkdata source 2102 b, between the second set of Subscriber Stations 2108 band the Second Core Network data source 2102 b.

In one alternative embodiment of the system allowing partial roaming,just described, each Backhaul channel is a network Tunnel directlyconnecting the respective Core Network data source with the wireless BS2100 of the first Operator 2102 a′. If there are Subscriber Stationsassociated with two Operators, for example, then the general Backhaulchannel 2105 connecting the First Core Network data source 2102 a to thefirst set of Subscriber Stations 2108 b is one network Tunnel, and thededicated Backhaul channel 2106 connecting the Second Core Network datasource 2102 b to the second set of Subscriber Stations 2108 b is asecond network Tunnel.

In a first alternative embodiment to the embodiment in which theBackhaul channels are network Tunnels, each network Tunnel is anInternet Protocol (IP) Tunnel or a Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE)Tunnel.

In a first alternative embodiment to the embodiment in which theBackhaul channels are network Tunnels, at least two of the networkTunnels are transported over a single physical Backhaul link.

In a second alternative embodiment of the system allowing partialroaming, described above, each Backhaul channel is a separate physicalBackhaul link.

In a third alternative embodiment of the system allowing partialroaming, described above, the system tracks the wireless spectrumresources used by the set of Subscriber Stations 2108 b associated withthe second Operator 2102 b′. Also, data collected during the trackingprocess is sent to the second Operator 2102 b′, and such data may beused by the first Operator 2102 a′ to bill the second Operator 2102 b′for the partial roaming services provided by the first Operator 2102 a′to Subscriber Stations 2108 b associated with the second Operator 2102b′.

In a fourth alternative embodiment of the system allowing partialroaming, described above, the system determines the identity of thesecond Operator 2102 b′ prior to establishing a wireless connectionbetween the wireless BS 2100 and at least one of the second set ofSubscriber Stations 2108 b. Also, the system allows communication withsuch Subscriber Station 2108 b, only if the Operator 2102 b′ with whomthe Subscriber Station 2108 b is associated, appears on a list ofOperators approved to receive roaming services from the first Operator2102 a′.

In a fifth alternative embodiment of the system allowing partialroaming, described above, the system determines the identity of thesecond Operator 2102 b′ after establishing a wireless connection betweenthe wireless BS 2100 of the first Operator 2102 a′ and at least one ofthe second set of Subscriber Stations 2108 b. Also, the system stopscommunication with such Subscriber Station 2108 b, if the SubscriberStation 2108 b is associated with an Operator 2102 b′ who does notappear on a list of Operators approved to receive roaming services fromthe first Operator 2102 a′.

FIG. 25A presents one embodiment of components of the state of acommunication that allows partial roaming. There is a First Core Networkdata source 2102 a which is part of the system of a first Operator 2102a′. Sets of data are transmitted 2400 a between the First Core Networkdata source 2102 a, via a Radio Access Network (RAN) 2209 of the FirstOperator 2102 a′, to one or more Subscriber Stations 2108 a associatedwith the First Operator 2102 a′. Although the system presented in FIG.25A allows partial roaming, there is no roaming in the state shown inFIG. 25A.

FIG. 25B presents one embodiment of components of the same system aspresented in FIG. 25A, except that the state of the system is different.In FIG. 25B, one or more Subscriber Stations 2108 b not associated withthe First Operator 2102 a′ request access to the First Operator's RAN2209.

FIG. 25C presents one embodiment of components of the same system aspresented in FIGS. 25A and 25B, except that the state of the system isdifferent. In FIG. 25C, one or more Subscriber Stations 2108 b notassociated with the First Operator 2102 a′ have been allowed access tothe RAN 2209 of the First Operator 2102 a′. In this state of the system,there is a Second Core Network data source 2102 b, which belongs to asecond Operator 2102 b′. The Subscriber Station 2108 b that is notassociated with the First Operator 2012 a′, is associated with theSecond Operator 2102 b′. Sets of data are transmitted 2400 b between theSecond Core Network data source 2102 b, via the RAN 2209 belonging tothe First Operator 2102 a′, and the Subscriber Station 2108 b associatedwith the Second Operator 2102 b′.

FIG. 26 is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of the elements ofa method for partial roaming. In step 3021, transmitting 2400 a sets ofdata from a data source 2102 a of the host Operator 2102 a′ toSubscriber Stations 2108 a of the host Operator 2102 a′. In particular,transmitting 2400 a sets of data by a first Operator 2102 a′ (also knownas the host Operator), from a Core Network data source 2102 a belongingto the first Operator 2102 a′, to a first set of Subscriber Stations2108 a associated with the first Operator 2102 a′, over a Radio AccessNetwork (RAN) 2209 belonging to the first Operator 2102 a′. In step3022, detecting that a Subscriber Station 2108 b associated with asecond Operator 2102 b′ is requesting access to the RAN 2209 of the hostOperator 2102 a′. In step 3023, admitting the Subscriber Station 2108 bassociated with the second Operator 2108 b′, to the RAN 2209 of the hostOperator 2102 a′. In 3024, relaying by the RAN 2209 of the firstOperator 2102 a′, sets of data transmitted 2400 b by a Core Network datasource 2102 b belonging to the second Operator 2102 b′, to one or moreSubscriber Stations 2108 b associated with the second Operator 2102 b′.

In this Detailed Description, numerous specific details are set forth.However, the embodiments of the invention may be practiced without someof these specific details. In other instances, well-known hardware,software, materials, structures and techniques have not been shown indetail in order not to obscure the understanding of this description. Inthis description, references to “one embodiment” mean that the featurebeing referred to may be included in at least one embodiment of theinvention. Moreover, separate references to “one embodiment” or “someembodiments” in this description do not necessarily refer to the sameembodiment. Illustrated embodiments are not mutually exclusive, unlessso stated and except as will be readily apparent to those of ordinaryskill in the art. Thus, the invention may include any variety ofcombinations and/or integrations of the features of the embodimentsdescribed herein. Although some embodiments may depict serialoperations, the embodiments may perform certain operations in paralleland/or in different orders from those depicted. Moreover, the use ofrepeated reference numerals and/or letters in the text and/or drawingsis for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itselfdictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/orconfigurations discussed. The embodiments are not limited in theirapplications to the details of the order or sequence of steps ofoperation of methods, or to details of implementation of devices, set inthe description, drawings, or examples. Moreover, individual blocksillustrated in the figures may be functional in nature and do notnecessarily correspond to discrete hardware elements. While the methodsdisclosed herein have been described and shown with reference toparticular steps performed in a particular order, it is understood thatthese steps may be combined, sub-divided, or reordered to form anequivalent method without departing from the teachings of theembodiments. Accordingly, unless specifically indicated herein, theorder and grouping of the steps is not a limitation of the embodiments.Furthermore, methods and mechanisms of the embodiments will sometimes bedescribed in singular form for clarity. However, some embodiments mayinclude multiple iterations of a method or multiple instantiations of amechanism unless noted otherwise. For example, when an interface isdisclosed in an embodiment, the scope of the embodiment is intended tocover also the use of multiple interfaces. Certain features of theembodiments, which may have been, for clarity, described in the contextof separate embodiments, may also be provided in various combinations ina single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the embodiments,which may have been, for brevity, described in the context of a singleembodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitablesub-combination. Embodiments described in conjunction with specificexamples are presented by way of example, and not limitation. Moreover,it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations willbe apparent to those skilled in the art. It is to be understood thatother embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be madewithout departing from the scope of the embodiments. Accordingly, it isintended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variationsthat fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for connecting a subscriber station withits operator using a wireless base station belonging to a differentoperator, comprising: establishing a wireless connection between (i) awireless base station belonging to a first operator and (ii) at leastone subscriber station associated with a second operator, using wirelessspectrum belonging to the first operator; opening a dedicated backhaulchannel between the wireless base station and a core network data sourcebelonging to the second operator, wherein said dedicated backhaulchannel is used substantially solely for communicating data sets betweenthe second operator and the at least one subscriber station; andcommunicating data sets between the core network data source and the atleast one subscriber station, via (i) the dedicated backhaul channel and(ii) the wireless base station using the wireless spectrum.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein opening of the dedicated backhaul channel isdone only after establishing the wireless connection, therebyeliminating the need to maintain the dedicated backhaul channel in acase that the at least one subscriber station is not connectedwirelessly to the wireless base station.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein opening of the dedicated backhaul channel is done prior toestablishing the wireless connection, thereby reducing latencyassociated with opening the dedicated backhaul channel as a response toestablishing the wireless connection.
 4. The method of claim 1, whereinthe dedicated backhaul channel is a network tunnel directly connectingthe core network data source with the wireless base station.
 5. Themethod of claim 4, wherein the network tunnel is of a type selected froma group consisting an internet protocol tunnel and generic routingencapsulation tunnel.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:opening a general backhaul channel between the wireless base station anda core network data source belonging to the first operator, prior toopening the dedicated backhaul channel, wherein said general backhaulchannel is used substantially solely for communicating data sets betweenthe first operator and subscriber stations associated with the firstoperator; and communicating data sets between the core network datasource belonging to the first operator and the subscriber stationsassociated with the first operator, via (i) the general backhaul channeland (ii) the wireless base station using the wireless spectrum,substantially concurrently with communicating data sets between the corenetwork data source belonging to the second operator and the at leastone subscriber station associated with the second operator, therebycreating a traffic separation at the backhaul level between (i) datasets communicated between the first operator and its subscriberstations, and (ii) data sets communicated between the second operatorand its subscriber stations.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein bothsubscriber stations associated with the first operator and subscriberstations associated with the second operator are wirelessly connected tothe wireless base station, via a single radio access network created bythe wireless base station using the wireless spectrum, thereby creatinga traffic union at the radio access network level between (i) data setscommunicated between the first operator and its subscriber stations, and(ii) data sets communicated between the second operator and itssubscriber stations.
 8. The method of claim 6, further comprisingeliminating a need of the subscriber stations associated with the secondoperator to use the core network data source belonging to the firstoperator and core network data services belonging to the first operator,by opening and using said dedicated backhaul channel, therebyfacilitating partial roaming.
 9. The method of claim 6, furthercomprising: tracking, by the wireless base station, the amount ofspectrum resources associated with the wireless spectrum, that are usedby the at least one subscriber station associated with the secondoperator; and sending data gathered during tracking to the secondoperator.
 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining theidentity of the second operator prior to establishing the wirelessconnection; and establishing the wireless connection only if theidentity of the second operator matches a list of approved operators.11. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining the identityof the second operator during or after the course of establishing thewireless connection; and terminating the wireless connection if theidentity of the second operator does not match a list of approvedoperators.
 12. A method for partial roaming, comprising: sharing, by awireless base station belonging to a first operator, a wireless spectrumbelonging to the first operator, with subscriber stations not associatedwith the first operator; and separating, by the wireless base station,at a backhaul level, traffic of the subscriber stations not associatedwith the first operator from traffic of subscriber stations associatedwith the first operator, by maintaining at least two separate backhaulchannels, such that a first backhaul channel connects the wireless basestation with a core network data source belonging to the first operator,and each of the remaining backhaul channels connects the wireless basestation with a core network data source belonging to another operatorrespectively.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein each backhaul channelis a network tunnel that directly connects one of the core network datasources with the wireless base station.
 14. The method of claim 13,wherein the network tunnel is of a type selected from a group consistingan internet protocol tunnel and generic routing encapsulation tunnel.15. The method of claim 12, further comprising: tracking, by thewireless base station, the amount of spectrum resources associated withthe wireless spectrum, which are used by subscriber stations notassociated with the first operator; and sending data gathered duringtracking to operators associated with subscriber stations not associatedwith the first operator, wherein said gathered data may be used by thefirst operator to bill the operators associated with subscriber stationsnot associated with the first operator.
 16. The method of claim 12,further comprising: determining the identity of operators associatedwith the subscriber stations not associated with the first operatorprior to establishing a wireless connection between the wireless basestation and the subscriber stations not associated with the firstoperator; and establishing a wireless connection only if the identitymatches a list of approved operators.
 17. The method of claim 12,further comprising: determining the identity of operators associatedwith the subscriber stations not associated with the first operatorafter establishing a wireless connection between the wireless basestation and the subscriber stations not associated with the firstoperator; and terminating the wireless connection if the identity doesnot match a list of approved operators.
 18. A system allowing partialroaming, comprising: a first and a second core network data sources,belonging to a first and a second operators respectively; and a wirelessbase station belonging to the first operator, operative to communicatewith a first set of subscriber stations associated with the firstoperator and with a second set of subscriber stations associated with asecond operator, over a wireless spectrum belonging to the firstoperator; wherein the system is configured to: transport trafficassociated with the first set of subscriber stations over a firstbackhaul channel connecting the wireless base station to the first corenetwork data source, and transport traffic associated with the secondset of subscriber stations over a second backhaul channel connecting thewireless base station to the second core network data source.
 19. Thesystem of claim 18, wherein each backhaul channel is a network tunneldirectly connecting the respective core network data source with thewireless base station.
 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the networktunnels are of a type selected from a group consisting of an internetprotocol tunnel and generic routing encapsulation tunnel.
 21. The systemof claim 19, wherein at least two of the network tunnels are transportedover a single physical backhaul link.
 22. The system of claim 18,wherein each backhaul channel is a separate physical backhaul link. 23.The system of claim 18, further configured to: track wireless spectrumresources, which are used by the set of subscriber stations associatedwith the second operator.
 24. The system of claim 23, wherein datagathered during tracking is used by the first operator to bill thesecond operator.
 25. The system of claim 18, further configured to:determine the identity of the second operator prior to establishing awireless connection between the wireless base station and at least oneof the second set of subscriber stations; and communicate only if theidentity matches a list of approved operators.
 26. The system of claim18, further configured to: determine the identity of the second operatorafter establishing a wireless connection between the wireless basestation and at least one of the second set of subscriber stations; andstop communication if the identity does not match a list of approvedoperators.
 27. A method for partial roaming, comprising: transmittingsets of data, by a first operator, from a core network data sourcebelonging to the first operator to a first set of subscriber stationsassociated with the first operator, over a radio access networkbelonging to the first operator; detecting that a subscriber stationassociated with a second operator is requesting access to the radioaccess network; admitting the Subscriber Station associated with thesecond operator to the radio access network; and relaying, by the radioaccess network, sets of data transmitted by a core network data sourcebelonging to the second operator, to the subscriber station associatedwith the second operator.